A WELCOME ADDRESS
On behalf of the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research (ISSTDR) and the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI), it is our pleasure to invite you to the prestigious STI & HIV 2025 World Congress, that will be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Palais des Congrès, July 26-30th, 2025.
This Congress will bring together diverse researchers, clinicians, healthcare workers, community leaders, affected persons and advocates from around the world to exchange ground-breaking insights, innovative approaches, and evidence-based best practices. Your expertise, insights, and contributions will greatly enrich the Congress events, discussions, and outcomes. This Congress will provide you with an invaluable opportunity to network with leaders and advocates, learn from respected participants, and collaborate on shaping the future of sexual health.
We sincerely hope that you will accept our invitation and join us for this unique Congress. Together, we can make significant strides in advancing the field of sexual health and contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide.
Marc Steben
President ISSTDR
Co-Chair, STI & HIV 2025 World Congress
Jo-Anne Dillon
President-Elect IUSTI
Co-Chair, STI & HIV 2025 World Congress
DIVERSITY MOSAIC
The creative concept designed to represent the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress was developed around the event’s thematic “Sexual Health for All”, expressed through diverse sexualities and forms of sexual expression. Inspired by diversity flags, the idea was to distillate graphically the essence of inclusivity, representing in an abstract way the infinite mosaic of people, in all its shapes and colours. To achieve this, we approached graphics as deconstructed iconic flags to create a set of minimalist themed tiles made out of the original style of lines and colour palette.
Using square tiles as a modular unit, we created colourful combinations to represent this diverse mosaic of people: everyone interested, involved and/or touched in some way by the topics of this prestigious World Congress. The graphic device can be connected and recombined in endless variations and formats as blocks, lines or icons. The goal was to create a brand image that could also be deployed as a series of visuals translating into a unique, memorable, approachable image communicating the innovative, global and unifying spirit of this special event.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that the congress is being held on the traditional unceded Indigenous lands. The territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters of this region. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous peoples and within the Montreal community. We recognize this land’s long history, predating the establishment of European Colonies, and we acknowledge this territory’s significance for the Indigenous Peoples who lived and continue to live upon it, whose practices and spiritualities were tied to the land and continue to develop in relationship to the territory and its other inhabitants today. It is with deep humility that we acknowledge and offer our gratitude for their contributions to this community, having respect for all as we share this space now and walk side by side into the future.
MONTREAL FLAG
Montréal’s flag and coat of arms now bears five symbols to recognize the city’s founding peoples: the white pine for the indigenous presence, the fleur-de-lis for the French, the rose for the English, the thistle for the Scottish and the clover for the Irish.
