World Aids Day - 2005: Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise

[Guest guest]

Issued in the interest of every single child, women and man in

India, and around the World.

According to UNAIDS estimates, despite decreases in the rate of

infection in certain countries, the overall number of people living

with HIV has continued to increase in all regions of the world

except the Caribbean. There were an additional five million new

infections in 2005. The number of people living with HIV globally

has reached its highest level with an estimated 40.3 million people,

up from an estimated 37.5 million in 2003.

More than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses

in 2005; of these, more than 500000 were children. Around half of

all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and

die of AIDS related illness's before they are 35.

Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But

HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents

around the world.

Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but

also about increasing awareness, education and fighting prejudice.

World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not

gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

The theme for World Aids Day

For many years, World AIDS Day has been organised by UNAIDS, who

have chosen the theme after consultation with other organisations.

However, in 2005 UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS

Day to an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign

(WAC).

The WAC's theme for their campaign is " Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise " .

This theme is however not specific to World AIDS Day alone but to

the work the WAC does throughout the year. It will also remain the

focus until 2010.

This change in the way that World AIDS Day is organised has caused

some confusion among HIV & AIDS organisations. Some have chosen to

adopt " Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise " as their theme for World AIDS

Day 2005. Others have, for the first time, picked their own topic

for the events they're holding this year on 1st December. Whatever

you decide to do for World AIDS Day however, the most important

thing is that you follow its basic principals by raising awareness

and understanding where you live and by remembering the millions

living with HIV or suffering because of AIDS.

You can find out more about supporting World AIDS day and

publicising your events and websites from the web.

Past World AIDS Day themes have been:

2004 - Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS

2003 - Stigma & Discrimination

2002 - Stigma & Discrimination

2001 - I care. Do you?

2000 - AIDS : Men make a difference

1999 - Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children &

Young People

1998 - Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People

1997 - Children Living in a World with AIDS

1996 - One World, One Hope

1995 - Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities

1994 - AIDS & the Family

1993 - Act

1992 - Community Commitment

1991 - Sharing the Challenge

1990 - Women & AIDS

1989 - Youth

1988 - Communication

More about " Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise "

" Keep the Promise " is an appeal to governments and policy makers to

ensure they meet the targets they have agreed to in the fight

against HIV and AIDS. Some of the most important of these promises

are contained in the UNGASS Declaration and the 3 by 5 Initiative:

The UNGASS Declaration of Commitment was signed by all 189 members

of the UN (India is one of the signatories) in June 2001.

The governments of these countries committed themselves to taking

action on HIV and AIDS in the fields of leadership, prevention, care

and support, treatment, reducing vulnerability, and human rights.

The following targets were set for the end of 2005:

Reduce HIV prevalence by 25% among men and women aged 15-24 in the

most affected countries.

Ensure that at least 90% of young people aged 15 to 24 have access

to the information, education and services necessary to develop the

life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.

Reduce the proportion of infants infected with HIV by 20% by

increasing access to services which prevent mother-to-child

transmission.

Increase annual spending on HIV and AIDS to $7-10 billion in low and

middle-income countries and those countries experiencing or at risk

of experiencing rapid expansion of HIV epidemics.

The 3 by 5 Initiative, which was launched by WHO and UNAIDS in

December 2003, set the following target, which many governments

promised to help achieve:

Provide access to antiretroviral treatment to 3 million people

living with HIV in developing and transitional countries by the end

of 2005. (Learn more about 3 by 5 from the WHO, UNAIDS sites.)

People have a right to hold governments and policy makers to account

as they announce whether these promises have been kept, and whether

enough progress is being made towards longer-term targets.

One of the Millennium Development Goals - to which all members of

the UN have committed - is to have halted by 2015 and begun to

reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Substantial progress must be made by

the end of 2005 to ensure that our leaders will be able to keep this

promise, too.

The Red Ribbon….

The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is

worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day

to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind

others of the need for their support and commitment.

The red ribbon started as a " grass roots " effort, and as a result

there is no official red ribbon, and many people make their own.

It's easily done - just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety

pin!

What can I do to support World AIDS Day?

There are many ways in which you can support World AIDS Day. For

example:

Raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in your area

Wear a red ribbon and ask others to do the same

Protect yourself and your partners - this is the first and best way

to stop the spread of HIV

If you are worried - get tested.

At school or work, you can support World AIDS Day by:

Having a dressing up, down or fancy dress day

Putting up some posters (see below) - get people talking

Selling red ribbons

Organising a creative writing/poster campaign

Setting up a debate or a quiz - there're lots of ideas for topics on

our site

Cooking an international meal or having a cake sale

Arranging a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release

Getting your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their

feelings and expand their knowledge about AIDS

Using your imagination!

World AIDS Day on the web….

The internet is a great way to reach people all around the world -

other people in many countries are reading this page right now.

People now spend more of their daily lives online - at work, at

school, at home. People shop, chat, make new friends, study and work

online. If you want to get a message to as many people as possible,

this could be the way to do it.

Think about….

Providing information on your website about World AIDS Day, and

about any local events taking place in your community and city.

Asking your school, college or employer to provide information on

their website.

Downloading campaign material: Many National and International

organisations have a wide selection of posters, booklets and fliers

that you can be used.

Learning more about HIV and AIDS: The web has a great deal of

information about the global epidemic, HIV and AIDS statistics and

education. Other sites specifically related to the " Keep the

Promise " theme can be found on the web.

Warm Regards

Dr.Ashok Rau

Senior Research Fellow, HIP

The Terry Sanford Institute of Public Health, Duke University, USA,

Visiting Faculty, Yale University, New Haven, USA,

Senior ASHOKA Fellow, Executive Trustee/CEO

Freedom Foundation-India, Centers of Excellence- Substance Abuse & HIV/AIDS Head

Office: 180, Hennur Cross,

Hennur Main Road, Bangalore-560 043, India

e-MAIL: <ashokrau@...>