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Leadership is the theme for World AIDS Day 2007 and 2008, promoted with the campaigning slogan, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”
Leadership encourages leaders at all levels to stop AIDS. Building on the 2006 theme of accountability, leadership highlights the discrepancy between the commitments that have been made to halt the spread of AIDS, and actions taken to follow them through. Leadership empowers everyone – individuals, organisations, governments – to lead in the response to AIDS.
The summer edition of the Universal Access Campaigner's Update is now available! The edition includes a very special insert that highlights key events and activities around the themes of universal access, leadership and human rights that the World AIDS Campaign and its partners are taking part in during the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City 3 - 8 August.
Below you will find links to human rights, women, faith and community involvement guides that will be useful to delegates attending the conference in Mexico City.
Youth
Please see below invitation to the Satellite Session: No Youth, No Change, being held at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City on 3 August.
Below you will find youth-specific factsheets on topics such as universal access, criminalisation and harm reduction. Others will be coming soon. Please check back!
The Youth Partnership Alerts are released prior to specific key events such as UNGASS, Mexico IAC and World AIDS Day, to highlight where youth organisations will be participating, opportunities for collaboration and possibilities for joint fundraising. The alerts aims to provide information on who is doing what and where, including guidance on how to get involved in different initiatives at key youth specific moments throughout the year.
30 July 2008 - Released Tuesday, the Report on the global AIDS epidemic reveals positive strides in reducing rates of infection in key populations, whilst leaving no doubt that stronger long-term efforts, that include participation from those most affected, with human rights at their core, are needed to make substantive differences in tackling the pandemic.
“The protection and promotion of human rights has to be at the centre of our efforts in the response to AIDS,” states Prateek Suman Awasthi, chair of the Global Steering Committee, World AIDS Campaign. “The violation of human rights puts populations at greater risk of harm and the key to reducing vulnerabilities lies in the promotion and protection of these rights. The evidence shows that comprehensive, multi-sectoral, inclusive and rights-based approaches are more successful and bring us closer to the goal of universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support.”
New data released by UNAIDS shows a direct correlation between the presence of discriminatory laws criminalising marginalised populations, such as men who have sex with men and people who use drugs, and the absence of services for those populations. “The bottom line is that there are people in every area of society who are unable to get the information, treatment, and support they need to protect and care for themselves and others,” says Linda Hartke, coordinator of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
The labour movement agrees, as noted by Alan Leather, Global Union AIDS Programme. “Without recognising and defending basic human rights, we will neither address the root causes that make many people vulnerable to HIV infection nor will we be able to ensure access to the necessary services.”
The Global Report, issued by UNAIDS every two years, is one of the most comprehensive on the response to AIDS. The statistics show a decline in the number of new HIV infections in some countries. The decline seems to be attributable to recent significant increases in prevention and treatment coverage, particularly amongst populations most at risk. But there is consensus amongst UN and civil society organisations that a far stronger response is needed worldwide in order to turn the tide of the pandemic. Overall the number of people living with HIV is estimated at 33 million at the end of 2007.
World AIDS Day Resources will soon be available! Toolkits this year include 3 posters and 4 postcards, including a special 20th anniversary World AIDS Day postcard. To order your toolkit, please email us at worldaidsday@worldaidscampaign.org and let us know your language preference (English, Spanish, Russian and French) and the amount you would like. Hurry supplies are limited!
