Campaigns

1 December 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

1 December 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, efforts made to respond to the epidemic have produced positive results, however, the latest UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic indicates that the epidemic is not yet over in any part of the world.

Together with its partners, the World AIDS Campaign set this year’s theme for World AIDS Day as “Lead – Empower – Deliver”, building on last year’s theme of “Take the Lead”. Designating leadership as the World AIDS Day theme for 2007 – 2008 provides an opportunity to highlight both the political leadership needed to fulfill commitments that have been made in the response to AIDS – particularly the promise of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 – and celebrating the leadership that has been witnessed at all levels of society.

As in previous years, the World AIDS Campaign has produced a wide variety of campaign materials to be used by individuals and organizations that want to campaign on World AIDS Day and host commemorative events. These materials are available on the World AIDS Campaign web site at www.worldaidscampaign.org. The web site also has a calendar of events where organizations are encouraged to list information on their planned activities for World AIDS Day.

The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, every year UN agencies, governments and all sectors of civil society worldwide join together to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS.

The campaign, ‘Where history is made,’ invites guests to make history and make a pledge for an AIDS-free generation

GENEVA, 16 December 2013—UNAIDS and the hotel InterContinental Genève have come together in a public-private partnership to advance efforts to ensure that all children can be born free from HIV, that their mothers have access to life-saving medicines and that all children living with HIV can lead healthy lives.

Countries have committed to eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015. Although great progress has been made—with new HIV infections among children having been reduced by 53% since 2001—there is still a major push needed to help countries reach their goals. In 2013, just 28% of children in need of treatment had access.

“By keeping children free from HIV we are not only saving lives, we are investing in a healthier future for generations to come,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I am honoured that the hotel InterContinental Genève is partnering with us to provide more people with the opportunity to join our efforts in making an AIDS-free generation possible.”  

One of the first initiatives of the joint partnership is the launch of a campaign to raise both awareness and funds for an AIDS-free generation. The campaign, Where history is made, launched at a special event held at the hotel on 16 December, invites guests to make history and a pledge for an AIDS-free generation. Hotel staff will play an integral role with AIDS-awareness training and will be able to share information with guests about the importance of keeping children free from HIV. Hotel guests will be able to join the campaign by making a donation as they check out or when they visit the hotel restaurant or bar.

“The hotel has a longstanding history and relationship with the UN in Geneva, and we are excited to have formed this partnership with UNAIDS,” said the General Manager of the hotel InterContinental Genève, Jürgen Baumhoff.

The hotel InterContinental Genève is an important landmark in Geneva, standing at the intersection of the city and the United Nations. In 2014 the hotel will mark its 50th anniversary over which time it has welcomed world leaders and played host to the historic brokering of deals and forging of partnerships. The campaign between UNAIDS and the hotel InterContinental Genève is part of the hotel’s 50-year celebrations and captures the essence of this major milestone by joining efforts to achieve an AIDS-free generation.  

“Building healthier societies begins with children,” said UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador and internationally acclaimed musician Toumani Diabaté who performed at the special launch event. “We can all be part of history by making sure that women living with HIV and their children have access to HIV, prevention, treatment and care services.”

Make your voice heard.

The United Nations has launched a broad consultation process for the next global development goals.

The original Millennium Development Goals that Member States agreed to in 2000 include a goal focused on the AIDS response. 

As part of the outreach effort the UN announced an online crowdsourcing platform called My World where people can prioritize issues and share ideas.

MY World gives people the option to vote on 16 different issues to prioritize and there is an option to ‘SUGGEST a priority’. Ending AIDS is not part of the 16 voting options.

A “get out the vote” campaign has been launched to help make Ending AIDS a priority. Everyone who feels that AIDS should be one of the top issues can write-in “End AIDS”.

MY World will show how votes are trending and use the data to help inform wider consultations on the road to the new global goals. 

The campaign aims to harness the power of football to raise awareness of HIV

JOHANNESBURG, 19 January 2013— The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé and the President of the Confederation of African Football, Issa Hayatou launched the “Protect the Goal” initiative on January 19 at the opening ceremony of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg.

The “Protect the Goal” campaign aims to raise awareness of HIV and mobilize young people to commit to HIV prevention. Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2 300 young people are infected with HIV each day. Many young people living with HIV, who are eligible for treatment lack access or do not know their HIV status. The “Protect the Goal” campaign also stresses the need for ensuring all the 15 million people eligible for life-saving antiretroviral treatment can access it by 2015.

“Accelerating large-scale efforts for HIV prevention and treatment is imperative in Africa,” said President Jacob Zuma. “With strong leadership from government and community support, South Africa is showing results and its commitment to ending AIDS.”

Earlier in January, the President of Ghana, John Mahama attended an event to send off the Ghana Black Stars National Football Team to the Africa Cup of Nations. During the event, President Mahama signed a pledge supporting the “Protect the Goal” campaign. The Captain of the Black Stars also signed and read out the pledge. As part of advocacy activities in the lead-up to the tournament, UNAIDS country offices were able to enlist the support of other national football federations to the Protect the Goal campaign. As a result, team captains from Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Niger signed the pledge to support the campaign. Other countries are expected to join the initiative during the three week-long Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

During the Africa Cup of Nations, UNAIDS is partnering with the Confederation of African Football, the South African Football Association and the Tobeka Madiba Zuma Foundation to implement the “Protect the Goal” initiative. During the campaign, UNAIDS and its partners will disseminate HIV prevention messages on large electronic screens to football fans in all stadiums where the Africa Cup of Nations football games are taking place. The captains of each of the 16 teams participating in the games will read a statement calling on players, football fans and young people to support the campaign. The “Protect the Goal” campaign will continue until the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

“Football appeals so much to young people and I am thrilled to have such a groundswell of support from the stars of African soccer,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “I know this is just the start of an astonishing campaign which will generate much enthusiasm among fans all the way to Brazil 2014.”

“We are extremely happy to support UNAIDS in their efforts to roll out this campaign across the continent,” said President of the Confederation of African Football, Issa Hayatou. ”Our teams are committed to an Africa where AIDS is no longer a threat.”

The 29^th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations will last until 10 February, the day of the finale. It is the most prestigious football tournament on the continent and happens every two years. The sixteen teams participating in this year’s championship are: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa (host), Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia.

Vice-Minister of Health José del Carmen Sara launching the campaign “It is better to know: Get an HIV test.”

In the lead up to this year’s World AIDS Day, the Ministry of Health of Peru in collaboration with Asociación Dignidad, UNAIDS and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), launched the campaign “It is better to know: Get an HIV test.” The initiative aims to increase HIV testing coverage in the country, particularly among men, by providing free HIV tests.

Men aged 18 to 25 years are the main focus of the campaign, which aims to test 10 000 people by 1^st December (World AIDS Day). The testing will take place in 16 different venues set up by the Ministry, including in various universities, in order to reach as many young men as possible.

“This is an effort by the Ministry of Health to make HIV testing more accessible for men,” said Vice-Minister of Health José del Carmen Sara during the event.

There are 74 000 people living with HIV in Peru, 77% of whom are men. 56% of new infections occur in men who have sex with men and 9 out of 10 women acquire HIV from their stable partners, who may engage in high-risk behavior such as buying sex or having sex with other men. It is estimated that half of the people living with HIV in Peru were infected before the age of 21.

Although men are at higher risk of HIV infection than women, their access to health services has traditionally been poorer. Despite the fact that 3 of 4 people living with HIV are men, only 7% of men reported having been tested for HIV in 2008. Increased testing would provide greater opportunities for HIV prevention and early treatment.

Peru introduced rapid HIV testing and counseling for pregnant women in 2006, and in 2008 a large scale HIV testing and counseling campaign was organized focusing on women of reproductive age. In the same year the Ministry of Health also increased access to HIV testing and counseling for men who have sex with men, transsexuals and sex workers, but so far HIV tests have only been free for women.

“Half of the people living with HIV in Peru do not know their HIV status. It is important to save lives by increasing access to both HIV diagnosis and treatment,” said Regina Castillo, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Peru and Bolivia.

The launch on November 21^st brought together people living with HIV, UN representatives, government officials, journalists, international organizations, and renowned artists, including entertainer and HIV activist Ernesto Pimentel and singer Eva Ayllon.

The campaign aims to utilize the influence and outreach of football to raise awareness about AIDS and mobilize resources towards UNAIDS’ response to the epidemic.

To mark World AIDS Day, the Italian football league ‘Serie A’ will dedicate 2 days to UNAIDS. As part of the Together We Will End AIDS initiative, ten football matches on the 2^nd and 3^rd of December will call attention to and promote action toward the UNAIDS goal of zero new infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Accompanying the players, young supporters will carry Together We Will End AIDS banners onto the fields, and the club managers will wear red ribbons symbolising solidarity towards people living with HIV. Renowned players such as Robinho from AC Milan, Cavani from Napoli, and Zanetti from Inter will release interviews and photos in support of the initiative. The campaign aims to utilize the influence and outreach of football to raise awareness about AIDS and mobilize resources towards UNAIDS’ response to the epidemic.

On Saturday 24 November, UNAIDS collaborated with the Italian Rugby Federation during a rugby match between Italy and Australia. The match, which ended with a 19-22 victory for Australia, took place at the Franchi stadium in Florence, and was aimed at mobilizing Italian civil society and the general public to support the work of UNAIDS in achieving its target of Getting to Zero.

Renowned players such as Robinho from AC Milan, Cavani from Napoli, and Zanetti from Inter (in the picture) will release interviews and photos in support of UNAIDS and its work.

Sport can be a powerful force for change, and can play a key role in the response to AIDS, especially when it comes to educating people on HIV prevention and campaigning against stigma and discrimination.

UNAIDS has used football in many occasions to create a greater public awareness of the AIDS epidemic. German football star Michael Ballack and Korean football coach Myong-Bo Hong both support UNAIDS as International Goodwill Ambassadors. In February 2012, Brazilian football legend Pelé and others joined Gabon’s CAN without AIDS campaign. Another Brazilian football star, Ronaldinho, made a commitment last year to use his influence to promote AIDS awareness. A campaign entitled Give AIDS the Red Card was launched at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It saw the players and teams come together in a commitment to eliminate new HIV infections in children and keep their mothers alive by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Global leaders oppose policies as discriminatory and bad for business

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 28 November 2012—This World AIDS Day, Chief Executives (CEO’s) from some of the world’s largest companies are calling for an end to travel restrictions for people living with HIV. More than 40 CEOs have signed an unprecedented pledge urging the repeal of laws and policies in 45 countries that still deport, detain or deny entry to people solely because they are living with HIV.

The CEOs represent nearly 2 million employees in industries from banking to mining, travel to technology. They include companies like Johnson & Johnson, The Coca-Cola Company, Pfizer, Heineken, Merck, the National Basketball Association, Kenya Airways and Thomson Reuters.

“HIV travel restrictions are discriminatory and bad for business,” said Chip Bergh, President & CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “Global business leaders are coming together to make sure we end these unreasonable restrictions.”

The CEO pledge is an initiative of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Levi Strauss & Co. and GBCHealth, a coalition of companies that address global health challenges.

“Restrictions on entry, stay and residence for people living with HIV are discriminatory and a violation of human rights,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Every individual should have equal access to freedom of movement. I urge all countries to remove all such restrictions based on HIV status.”

CEOs oppose HIV travel restrictions because they are discriminatory and because to succeed in today’s globalized economy, companies must be able to send their employees and best talent overseas, regardless of their HIV status.

“It’s time to send HIV travel restrictions packing,” said Kenneth Cole, CEO of Kenneth Cole Productions. “Using our collective might, I believe we can use our influence to eliminate these discriminatory practices."

The United States of America lifted its 22-year HIV travel ban in 2010. Other countries, including Armenia, China, Fiji, Moldova, Namibia and Ukraine, have also recently removed such restrictions. However, 45 countries still deny entry, stay, residence or work visas for people living with HIV. These countries include major hubs for international business.

“Travel restrictions on individuals with HIV are unnecessary and hinder the ability for individuals and companies to operate in a truly global workforce,” said Mark Bertolini, Chairman, CEO & President of Aetna.

Most HIV-travel restrictions were imposed by governments in the 1980s when less was known about the transmission of HIV, and treatment didn’t exist. Since then, we’ve learned how to effectively prevent, manage and treat HIV.

Travel restrictions vary in different countries and can include preventing people living with HIV from entering altogether or deporting foreigners once their HIV status is discovered. Restrictions also include denying work visas, prohibiting short-terms stays for business trips or conferences and blocking longer-term stays or residence for work relocations and study abroad programs.

The CEO call to end HIV-related travel restrictions, first launched at the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., comes on the eve of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s release of a blueprint that outlines the goals and objectives for the next phase of the United States’ effort to achieve an AIDS-Free Generation.    

“Eliminating HIV travel restrictions is a win-win,” said GBCHealth Managing Director and Co-President Michael Schreiber.  “It’s the right thing to do from a humanitarian perspective and the right thing to do from a business perspective.”

Participating CEOs:

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc;  Mark Bertolini, Chairman, CEO and President, Aetna; Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American plc; Vincent A. Forlenza,  Chairman of the Board, CEO and President, BD; Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO, BET Networks;  Andy Burness, President, Burness Communications; Lamberto Andreotti, CEO, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Muhtar Kent, Chairman of the Board and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company;  Richard Edelman, President & CEO, Edelman;  Mark R. Kramer, Founder and Managing Director,  FSG;  Glenn K. Murphy, Chairman and CEO, Gap Inc.; Jonathan D. Klein, CEO and Co-Founder, Getty Images;  John C. Martin, PhD, Chairman and CEO, Gilead Sciences, Inc.;  Karl-Johan Persson, CEO, H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB;  Dr. Chris Kirubi, Chairman, Haco Tiger Brands;  Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO, HEINEKEN NV;  Victor Y. Yuan, Chairman, Horizon Research and Consultancy Group;  Bong Yong Dam, CEO, Hub One International Company Ltd;  Jena Gardner, President & CEO, JG Black Book of Travel;  Alex Gorsky, Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson;  Kenneth Cole, CEO, Kenneth Cole Productions; Dr .Titus Naikuni, MD and CEO, Kenya Airways Ltd;  Chip Bergh, President & CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.;  Kaushik Shah, CEO/Director, Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd;  Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and CEO, Merck;  Heather Bresch, CEO, Mylan; David J. Stern, Commissioner, National Basketball Association (NBA); Blake Nordstrom, President, Nordstrom, Inc.;  Ji Yong, General Manager, Northeast Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd; Douglas A. Michels, President & CEO, OraSure Technologies, Inc.; Ian C. Read, Chairman and CEO, Pfizer Inc.; Tzameret Fuerst, CEO, Prepex;  Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom; Hiromasa Yonekura, Chairman, Sumitomo Chemical;  Liam E. McGee, Chairman, President and CEO, The Hartford;  James C. Smith, CEO, Thomson Reuters; Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO, Vestergaard Frandsen;  Philippe Dauman, President & CEO, Viacom; Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Unite;  Melissa Waggener Zorkin, CEO, President & Founder, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide;  Andy Payne, CEO, Wilderness Holdings Ltd;  David Sable, CEO, Y&R;  William H. Roedy, AIDS Activist and former Chairman, MTVN International

UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Diabaté and Executive Director Michel Sidibé at UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, 16 November 2012. Credit: UNAIDS

UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Toumani Diabaté visited the UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva on 16 November where he met with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé to take stock on the current state of the AIDS epidemic.

Mr Diabaté, a worldwide-acclaimed musician from Mali and GRAMMY award winner, plays the kora, a harp-like instrument unique to West Africa, which he has brought to audiences around the world. He has used his influence as a well-respected public figure to advocate for the elimination of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV, which is a key component of the UNAIDS vision of Getting to Zero.

“Toumani is not just a voice, not just an artist,” said Mr Sidibé. “He grew up in a place where it was not worth being a famous musician if you could not change things with your music.”

UNAIDS.org took this opportunity to interview Mr Diabaté about his role in the AIDS response.

As a well-known musician, you use your influence to back a lot of important social causes. Why did you choose to focus on AIDS in particular?

I have seen a lot in my life, especially how stigma and discrimination can affect people and societies negatively. People living with and affected by HIV are often not treated with the respect they deserve. I want to help stop AIDS-related stigma and discrimination by speaking to my audience about the facts of HIV. By knowing the facts, people can be empowered to make informed choices and help support people living with HIV.

What would you like to contribute to the global response to AIDS?

I hope that, with my humble voice, I can help reach a greater audience and make people act as well as listen. I want them to take the AIDS issue seriously and get involved. Together we can make a difference.

Why do you think your music is such an effective tool in spreading HIV awareness messages in Mali and overseas?

Music connects people and builds bridges between cultures, and through it we have an opportunity to touch souls and express feelings. I hope that my audience will listen to and understand my message about stopping stigma and discrimination associated with AIDS.

What do you think needs to change in West Africa and globally for the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination to become a reality?

It is about shared responsibility: everybody needs to get involved, and I would like to see increased involvement of governments and the private sector, while remembering that people affected have to be at the center of the AIDS response and included in the decision-making processes. We can all contribute to making a difference and getting to zero.