A number of regional AIDS conference were held in 2007 giving each region an opportunity to put AIDS high on the agenda and examine their epidemics in depth. These conferences also provided a platform for participants to share ideas and strategies for moving the regional AIDS response forward. Universal access and in particular HIV prevention have been a much talked about topics this year with UNAIDS and partners launching an e-forum on HIV prevention in southern and eastern Africa, the release of the UNAIDS 'Practical Guidelines for Intensifying HIV Prevention', the meeting of the reference group on HIV prevention and a call to intensify HIV prevention, all of which are highlighted in the ‘Year in review’.