According to UNAIDS estimates, there are 38 million adults and 2.3 million children living with HIV, and during 2005 some 4.9 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS 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 below.
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 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 in our treatment section.)
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 n!
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!
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 below.
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 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 in our treatment section.)
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 n!
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!
Regards
