Campaigns

UNAIDS Chief of Resource Mobilization Mariangela Bavicchi Lerner and General Manager of OVS Francesco Sama pose with the young fashion designers who participated in the Make Love With campaign. Credit: OVS

Eleven young designers, the new generation of international fashion, joined together to create an exclusive collection of tops and t-shirts for Italian fashion retailer OVS as their personal contribution to the response to AIDS. This initiative is part of the Make Love With campaign, launched by OVS in partnership with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

The campaign aims to raise both funds and awareness towards the UNAIDS vision of “zero new infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths”. The money that is raised will support the work of UNAIDS in improving HIV treatment and prevention, as well as eliminating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

"It seemed fitting for a company like OVS, which primarily targets and engages with young people, to commit to this issue,” said Stefano Beraldo, CEO of Gruppo Coin, which owns OVS. “We were keen to launch and develop this campaign in collaboration with an international partner like UNAIDS, to work both within and outside the country borders, especially in light of our international expansion.”

The group of young designers include: Lavinia Biagiotti, Rachele Cavalli, Louis Marie de Castelbajac, Maria Sole Ferragamo, Marta Ferri, Alessandra Gucci, Alice Lemoine, Talitha Puri Negri, Lola Toscani, Rocco Toscani and Francesca Versace. Rocco Toscani, son of famous photographer Oliviero Toscani, also took the official campaign shots, featuring the young designers each wearing their own creation.

Young people aged 15-24 are the group most affected by HIV, accounting for 40% of all new adult HIV infections.  In 2011, about 5 million young people were living with HIV worldwide, with more than 2 400 being newly infected every day. According to the most recent population-based surveys in low- and middle-income countries, only 24% of young women and 36% of young men have an adequate knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission. Addressing the needs of young people and keeping them educated and informed encourages them to make responsible choices and drastically decreases their risk of being exposed to HIV.

 “This partnership with OVS presents an exciting opportunity to reach young people with HIV prevention messages,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Young people are leading the HIV prevention revolution around the world. Through our joint campaign, we will harness the energy and creativity of youth and the fashion world in support of the global HIV response.”

In recent years, UNAIDS has supported a number of other youth initiatives, including CrowdOutAIDS, an online collaborative policy project which leveraged social media and online collaboration tools to develop the first ever crowdsourced strategy document in the history of the United Nations. Over 5,000 young activists from 79 countries participated in the initiative.

The collection will be launched officially in the newly-renovated OVS store in Milan on November 27^th. It will be available to the public worldwide on World AIDS Day (December 1^st) in stores and online at www.ovs.it /makelovewith. Special events will be also organized in OVS stores in Russia, India and China.

Cricketing stars from the South Africa team, including JP Duminy (third from right), join ‘Think Wise’ campaign volunteers at an a HIV-awareness raising event in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Credit: UNICEF Sri Lanka

World cricket players have united in a call to young fans to ‘get the facts’ about HIV prevention and to help eliminate AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The call is part of a United Nations and International Cricket Council (ICC) HIV awareness-raising campaign taking place alongside the ICC World Twenty20 (WT20) tournament in Sri Lanka, which runs until 7 October.

Rallying support for the campaign known as ‘Think Wise’—an initiative of the ICC, UNAIDS and UNICEF— players from the South African Cricket team interacted with young people living with and affected by HIV in Colombo on 26 September.

“It is very important to create awareness on HIV—not only for our generation but also for the generation to come,” said South African player JP Duminy. “HIV is an issue for South Africa and the whole world and sport is one of the things that can bring nations together on important issues,” he added.

JP Duminy and his team-mates gave the youth attending the event tips on how to improve their batting, bowling and fielding skills during a specialized coaching session. At the same time, they spoke openly about HIV with the youth participants, stressing the importance of young people being informed, staying protected and eliminating harmful stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV.

A similar interaction session was held earlier in the WT20 tournament between players of the West Indies cricket team and children living with HIV. “This is definitely a great initiative and it’s important that young people are educated on the methods of protecting themselves from HIV,” said Trinidadian leg spin bowler Samuel Badree.

Commending the players’ commitment to raising awareness on HIV, Steven Kraus, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific said: “We are all striving for the vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Cricket and cricketing stars have the power to unite and reach beyond national boundaries, driving efforts towards ‘getting to zero’ and ending AIDS.”

Outrunning AIDS: towards an AIDS-free generation

Young people taking part in the ‘Think Wise’ activities emphasized the benefit of such events. “It was great to have the opportunity to play cricket with the teams and it was very important because of the reach that the campaign is having with the public—great opportunities for many important conversations,” a young participant said.

Players from the West Indies Cricket Team interacting with ‘Think Wise’ volunteers, children living with HIV and their families as part of the ‘Think Wise’ campaign.
Credit: UNICEF Sri Lanka

More than 40% of the new HIV infections globally are being reported among 15-24 year olds, which means that 3000 young people are being newly infected with the virus every day. Stigma against people living with HIV and people from communities at higher risk is still widespread across many cricket playing countries.

“Stigma and discrimination undermine our vision of an AIDS-free generation. This can be realized only if we all respect the rights of those living with or affected by HIV," said Rachel Odede, HIV Advisor in the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, underlining the importance of this Think Wise theme.

For almost a decade, and with the help of ‘Think Wise’ Champions including Virender Sehwag (India), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies) among others, the ICC/UNAIDS/UNICEF ‘Think Wise’ campaign has used the power of cricket to help address key issues around AIDS, particularly for young people across the major cricket-playing countries.

“Through cricket we can reach millions of people and the message is clear: Let’s talk more about HIV, let’s get informed. We know that stigma kills. Let’s ‘Think Wise’, don’t stigmatize,” said Indian batsman and ‘Think Wise’ Champion Virender Sehwag during the WT20 tournament.

ICC CEO David Richardson added: “The profile and reach of the ICC World T20 gives us an opportunity to raise awareness and reduce stigma about HIV and, along with the players, we are delighted to help this cause.”

For the duration of the WT20, a public service announcement featuring Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag will be screened at all tournament matches. Players from the teams taking part in the men’s and women’s semi-finals will wear red ribbons as a sign of solidarity for people living with HIV and umpires and referees will also sport the ‘Think Wise’ logo on their shirt sleeves.

The “Let’s Talk” Think Wise roadshow, supported by UNAIDS, ready to leave Colombo with its youth volunteers.
Credit: P. Deshapriya

A bus embossed with HIV messages, red ribbons and the faces of world cricketing stars is making a whistle stop tour through more than a hundred sites in Sri Lanka. Carrying young volunteers, the bus is part of the HIV awareness-raising campaign “Let’s talk” taking place around the world Twenty20 cricket tournament that runs from 18 September to 7 October in Sri Lanka.

An integral part of the joint UNAIDS, UNICEF and the International Cricket Council (ICC) partnership known as ‘Think Wise’, the bus has been on the road since late August. Using the power of cricket it aims to reach out to thousands of young people in Sri Lanka providing them with HIV information as well as inviting them to talk about AIDS.

Serving as the face of the roadshow, Sri Lankan cricketing hero and ‘Think Wise’ Champion Kumar Sangakkara’s message is featured on the side of the bus: “When you know the facts, you know what to do. Get the facts. Protect yourself against HIV”.

As the bus pulls up at one of the designated stops, the vibrant young volunteers greet locals with music, dance and organize activities including street cricket and an HIV quiz. With tickets to the Twenty20 final as the prize, the quiz along with the other activities is intended to help promote key HIV prevention and anti-discrimination messages.

“Education programmes through entertainment are really needed as they reach out to young people, especially those most at risk,” says ‘Think Wise’ roadshow volunteer Paba Deshapriya as she invites young people attending to sign on a giant wicket in support for the Sri Lankan team at the Twenty20 tournament. At the same time, she presents them with red ribbons and information about HIV services they can access in their area.

“The roadshow interactions are clearly showing that public knowledge of HIV is still extremely low—which means the bus and the AIDS response in Sri Lanka still have a long journey,” said roadshow team leader Mr Hans Billimoria.

Under the broader umbrella of the ‘Think Wise’ campaign, the bus roadshow is the result of a diverse national partnership in Sri Lanka that includes UNAIDS, UNICEF, Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, the National STI/AIDS Control Programme, the National Youth Council, the community organization Grassrooted and local youth organizations. The initiative aims to not only give clear and up to date information on HIV, dispel AIDS-related myths and challenge social stigma against people living with HIV but also to link people with local HIV services including HIV testing and counseling, treatment and support.

Despite a relatively low HIV prevalence in the country (less than 0.1%), stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and key affected communities is high and presents a major barrier to the HIV response. National surveys suggest that many people at higher risk of infection delay testing themselves for HIV and coming forward for treatment because they are concerned by the implications of testing HIV-positive and the confidentiality of their HIV status.

At the Think Wise roadshow, participants ‘sign the wickets’ in support of the Sri Lankan cricketing team’s performance in the World Twenty20 tournament and to show their solidarity for people living with HIV.
Credit: P. Deshapriya

Dr Nimal Edirisinghe Director of the Sri Lankan national STI and AIDS Control Programme said, “This is an ideal opportunity as the campaign actively links young people to HIV prevention and treatment services.”

According to the UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Sri Lanka Mr David Bridger an AIDS-free generation is within our reach. “That’s why through the ‘Think Wise’ campaign we say: ‘Let’s talk – Get the Facts – Protect yourself’ encouraging open dialogue on sex, sexual diversity, risks and HIV prevention methods,” he said.

As the bus continues its journey through Sri Lanka, additional HIV activities related to the ‘Think Wise’ campaign will take place during the Twenty20 tournament. These include screenings of a public service announcement at every match, the wearing of red ribbons by players in the semifinals and interaction events between cricket players from the West Indies and South Africa teams and young people.

The CONDOMIZE! Campaign seeks to raise awareness about the importance of condom use in a lively and engaging way.
Credit: Scott Henderson

There is a renewed emphasis on condoms at the XIX International AIDS Conference being held in Washington, DC from 22-27 July as a campaign promoting their use and availability has been re-launched with the distribution of 850 000 condoms.

The CONDOMIZE! Campaign aims to highlight the effectiveness of condoms, male and female, for HIV prevention and calls on governments, donors and users to intensify access to, and demand for, quality condoms as a primary defence against HIV.  It advocates investing significant resources and materials into promoting condom use as the most efficient and available prevention technology in the global AIDS response. Challenging the stigma that still often surrounds condoms is also a key objective.

“Let us not forget that the condom remains the cheapest and highly effective method we have to stop the spread of HIV,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé championing the importance of condoms during his opening speech at the conference. “It is time for all of us to condomize!,” he added.

The initiative was born during the 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna and is a partnership between UNFPA and The Condom Project, in close collaboration with Bahamas Red Cross; DKT International, a social marketing NGO; Durex, the Female Health Company, the International AIDS Society and UNAIDS.

In addition to mass condom distribution, rap music with short videos has been created, using key messages from senior international leaders about the importance of condom use. These messages are being shown on TV screens throughout the conference.

Franck DeRose, Executive Director of the Condom Project and Global Coordinator of the CONDOMIZE! Campaign, says “In a modern and exciting way, we are helping people understand very serious issues and the need to promote condom use. We must ensure that those who need condoms can access them when they need them and where they feel most comfortable. The awareness campaign at AIDS 2012 is one step towards making this happen.”

The campaign noted that there is a considerable shortfall in condom availability in a number of countries. For example, in 2011 in sub-Saharan Africa there were only nine condoms available per man per year and only one female condom for every 10 women. These condoms were mostly provided by donors as most low- and middle-income countries do not have a budget line for condom procurement.

According to UNFPA more support and funding are needed from governments themselves to increase the availability of male and female condoms. They should create awareness initiatives and encourage people to use condoms as an important facet of a combination HIV prevention approach which uses all proven methods of avoiding infection.

“We know that sexual transmission accounts for more than 80% of new HIV infections worldwide – if we increase protected sex, we could reduce HIV incidence,” said Bidia Deperthes, UNFPA’s Senior HIV Technical Advisor.

The social marketing of these commodities is highlighted by the involvement of DKT International whose President Philip Harvey says he wants to make condoms as “attractive and convenient to buy as Coca-Cola”. Condoms manufacturer Durex welcomes the chance to be involved in such an awareness-raising intervention.  Charles Shepherd, the company’s Head of Health Promotion comments: “We are delighted to help, not only by donating half a million condoms for the CONDOMIZE! programme at AIDS 2012, but also engaging with the educational sessions.”

Organisers say there has already been a great deal of interest shown with many conference participants urging them to roll out the campaign at country level.

Team captains participating in the Mexican World Cup signing the pledge to support the UNAIDS campaign “Give AIDS the Red Card”. Credit: UNAIDS

The game of football has once again scored a goal against HIV at the 2012 International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) World Championship Cup, held in Mexico from 1st to 9th June 2012.

At the tournament, footballers from 8 teams representing the Americas, Europe and Oceania joined the UNAIDS’ campaign “Give AIDS the Red Card” to promote HIV prevention and take a stand against stigma and discrimination.

“We are proud to stand together with UNAIDS and its partners to give AIDS the red card,” said Andoni Bello Lanestosa, captain of the Mexican team. “We can make change happen. We can help reduce HIV transmission by 50% and end violence and discrimination,” he added.

The Latin America region shows an unfortunate record in terms of human rights violations against lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGTB) people due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. LGTB people face a serious problem of stigma and discrimination that limit their access to health services, education and judicial systems and job opportunities and increases their vulnerability to HIV.

“Experience shows that when people are stigmatized for their sexual orientation or gender identity, they are less likely to access health services and information on HIV prevention,” stressed César A. Núñez, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America. “Studies in Latin America show HIV prevalence rates around 10% among men who have sex with men. Among transgender population, HIV prevalence is even higher, between 20 and 28%,” he added.

Two years ago at the FIFA 2010 World Cup held in South Africa, UNAIDS launched the “Give AIDS the Red Card” campaign using the power and outreach of football to unite the world around stopping new HIV infections in children. In this occasion, the campaign, which is based on “Give AIDS the Red Card”, uses the tournament to raise awareness on the HIV prevention needs of the LGTB community.

All team captains participating in the Mexican World Cup signed the pledge to support the UNAIDS campaign. By signing the pledge, the delegations agree to spread the message of the campaign upon return to their respective countries. Along with the team captains, representatives of the International Association of Gay Referees and IGLFA Latin America also endorsed the initiative and signed the pledge.

Football players from the Argentinean and Mexican teams collaborated with the campaign from the beginning. They appeared on posters and advertisement billboards used before and during the ILGFA World Cup. “Sports stars can play an important role in the AIDS response by talking openly about HIV,” said Rubén Mayorga, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. “Football players who join the campaign can inspire people to learn the facts about AIDS, to protect themselves and to fight stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and LGBT persons.”

The International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) was founded in 1992 and after 20 years, over 80 teams from more than 20 countries from all over the world have become part of this organization.

GENEVA, 8 May 2012—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today launched a new campaign, "Believe it. Do it.", aimed at bringing attention and action to the global goal of ending new HIV infections among children by 2015 and ensuring mothers living with HIV remain healthy. 

Each year, about 390 000 children become newly infected with HIV and as many as 42 000 women living with HIV die from complications relating to HIV and pregnancy.

In 2011, world leaders at the United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS committed to ending new HIV infections among children by 2015 and saving mothers’ lives. A bold new global plan was adopted and action is underway.

“We have an amazing opportunity to change the world,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We have the commitment of world leaders but the clock is ticking and we cannot get from 390 000 to zero without you.” 

UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Naomi Watts and Annie Lennox are among the personalities adding their voices and commitment to “Believe it. Do it.” In addition, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Whoopi Goldberg joined Blair Underwood, Denis O’Hare, Alexandra Wentworth, George Stephanopoulos and Sujean Rim to create a public service announcement for the campaign with the message “I believe children everywhere can be born free from HIV—Believe it. Do it.”

Under the premise that ‘every day is Mother’s Day!’ UNAIDS also teamed up with artist Sujean Rim to create a series of e-cards celebrating families. Through public service announcements, an interactive web site and social media outreach, the campaign asks the public to take three simple actions: 

1. Get the facts about ending new HIV infections among children  
2. Send a message about the issue and the actions people can all take
3. Support a mother through one of the great organizations working with families

The campaign will be featured ahead of Mother’s Day on 11 May on the American morning television show Good Morning America and the 30-second public service announcement will appear on CNN International, CNN Domestic (U.S. market) as well as other media outlets.

For more information visit http://www.unaids.org/believeitdoit/

CARMMA aims to accelerate the implementation of activities to stem maternal and child mortality.

The distinctive cry of a new-born baby pierces the air in the labour ward and stops conversation in its tracks. "That’s what we want to hear" remarks Sister Mavimbela, who just hours ago delivered him into the world. “When a baby cries, that’s the sign of a healthy delivery,” she says with the quiet confidence of someone who knows.

Unfortunately, it is not a cry that is heard every time as South Africa struggles with a high rate of maternal and child mortality. The country has a maternal mortality ratio of 310 deaths per 100 000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 56 deaths per 1 000 live births.  To reduce this, the campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) was launched at Osindisweni Hospital in Ethekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal Province on Friday 4 May.

CARMMA aims to accelerate the implementation of activities to stem maternal and child mortality and meet Africa’s targets for Millennium Development Goals four and five—to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate and to reduce by two thirds the child mortality rate between 1990 and 2015.

Health care workers at Osindisweni Hospital are certain about what is needed to help achieve these targets: reduce the burden of HIV. They are supported by the numbers.  South African data shows that 50% of maternal deaths and 40% of under-five deaths are as a result of HIV infection.

“We didn’t experience problems like this when I started”, says Sister Phumzile Kwitshana, who has been practicing as a midwife for 24 years. “It has gotten worse because of HIV—now mothers are sick.”

Dr. Amina Kajee, a doctor in the maternity ward at Osindisweni agrees.  “The last two cases of maternal deaths under my care were due to clinically advanced HIV. In one case one of the twins survived, the other didn’t. She only weighed 900 grams.”

The policy framework already exists: offer every pregnant woman HIV testing and counselling under the auspices of the national prevention of mother-to-child (PMTCT) programme. If she tests positive for HIV initiate her onto a regime of highly active anti-retroviral therapy to avoid transmitting the virus to her baby and ensure she is offered a continuum of treatment, care and support for herself and her infant.

However, one of the major obstacles to rolling out the policy successfully is that women often present for antenatal care too late in pregnancy for them to be offered the appropriate care. The overriding factor to explain this seems to be fear or lack of information, or a mixture of both.

“Women either don’t know or don’t want to know,” is how Dr. Kagee explains it.

“Women don’t come to the clinic because they don’t want to disclose to their families or partners… Sometimes it is the attitude of health care workers with the young ones,” says Sister Kwitshana, referring to the disapproval that often meets a teenage mother, sometimes discouraging her from returning. “Some of them just hide their pregnancies until late.”

Health care workers cite other challenges—some seemingly minor administrative issues, such as the need for a dedicated ambulance on standby for maternity cases, so that women at risk can get to hospital before the crisis deepens. In resource poor settings, however, minor challenges easily become major obstacles. These are further compounded by substantial health system challenges. For example, more midwives are needed to address understaffing and they require ongoing training and values clarification.

Nevertheless, the conversation returns to the issue of women themselves. “We need to shake up the community” says Sister Kwitshana.

Community mobilization campaigns are needed to encourage women to present early for antenatal care. Communities should be the bearers of information to prevent unintended pregnancies, especially among HIV positive women and teenagers, and to reduce HIV stigma.

The launch was led by South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and was attended by a number of dignitaries and celebrities, including the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms Lulama Xingwana, Advocate Bience Gawanas, the African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, musical icon and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Mrs Graça Machel  and UNAIDS Regional Director of the Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, Professor Sheila Tlou.

“The launch was a stark reminder of the hard work we need to do to achieve the third target of the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: Eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015 and reduce maternal deaths,” says Professor Tlou. “One death is a death too many.”

See to understand promotes the use of red glasses to make visible the commitment to counter stigma and discrimination related to HIV.

In Guatemala, wearing a pair of red glasses has transcended from being a fashion statement to a symbol against stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV. UNAIDS, in partnership with the National Red Cross, launched “See to understand”, a campaign that challenges people to look at the world through red glasses for a new perspective on what it can mean to live with HIV.

Millions of people still do not know what HIV is, how it is transmitted or how to prevent it. Furthermore, a range of social prejudices result in people living with HIV being frequently subject to discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. UNAIDS Guatemala and the Guatemalan Red Cross felt it was necessary to speak about HIV in order to stop taboos and prejudices.

The new initiative aims to raise awareness about HIV, eliminate stigma and discrimination and contribute to achieving the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths in Guatemala.

Ver para entender (See to understand) promotes the use of red glasses to make visible the commitment to counter stigma and discrimination related to HIV. According to the campaign, wearing the glasses means prioritizing health over social and cultural norms and supporting people living with and affected by HIV. "‘To see’ means to challenge fear, ignorance, silence and myths that contribute to fuel the stigma and discrimination that jeopardize the progress made in the response to AIDS,” said Enrique Zelaya, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Guatemala and Mexico.

Participants can support the campaign by taking a picture of themselves wearing a pair of red glasses and encourage others to do the same. So far more than 800 people have joined this initiative including national authorities and people living with HIV. Among them, Luz Lainfiesta Minister of Social Development, Claudia Samayoa Director of the National STD, HIV and AIDS Program and Otoniel Ramirez REDCA + Regional Secretary.

“HIV affects us all and the response requires a comprehensive approach,” said Minister Lainfiesta. “From the Ministry of Social Development we will work to reach the goal of zero discrimination towards people living with HIV.”

The powerful message of the campaign has already expanded beyond Guatemala. During the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva February 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay put on the red glasses and urged countries to protect human rights and work towards the elimination of the stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV.

The campaign will undertake additional activities to raise awareness about HIV-related stigma and discrimination including the broadcast of radio messages and the organization of social mobilization activities such as discussion forums, surveys and community arts competitions on HIV. 

Prevailing stigma and discrimination

An estimated 65 000 people are living with HIV in the Guatemala. There are more than 20 people becoming newly infected every day amounting around 7 500 new HIV infections each year. The HIV epidemic in the country remains concentrated among key populations at higher risk such as sex workers and their clients and men who have sex with men. Discrimination against these affected populations is also very high in the country making it more difficult for them to access HIV services.

According to the first national human rights report, between 2009 – 2010 there were 313 complaints to the national attorney and civil society organizations of which 46% related to violations of the right to health and 13% to the right to life and integrity. Such violations ranged from shortages of antiretroviral medicines to lack of adequate and friendly health facilities and personnel.

The transgender organization OTRANS stressed in the report that transgender people had limited access to employment because of stigma and discrimination. OTRANS also reported cases of physical aggressions, disappearances and deaths because of gender identity. According to the organization, 13 deaths and 3 disappearances were reported from 2007 to 2011.

"Since the beginning of the epidemic, stigma and discrimination have been identified as the main obstacle to an effective HIV response,” said Cesar Núñez, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America. “Discrimination related to HIV is itself a violation of human rights, and, in turn, implies the violation of other rights, including the right to health, education, dignity and equality before the law," he added.

Members of the West Indies Cricket Team, photographed with children who participated in the Think Wise coaching clinic and Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team.
Credit: UNAIDS

Hosting a group of local students at the Kensington Oval stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados, the West Indies Cricket Team expressed solidarity with the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections among children. The coaching clinic was held as part of the Think Wise Campaign, a global partnership that uses the power and reach of cricket to address key HIV-related issues.

"We have the medicines, we have the knowledge. There is no need for any Caribbean child to be born with HIV,” said West Indies Captain Darren Sammy, who endorsed the call for preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and ensuring access to life-saving treatment for HIV-positive women. “There is no need to treat anyone any differently because of their HIV status," he added.

The Think Wise Campaign—a partnership between UNAIDS, UNICEF, the International Cricket Council and the Global Media AIDS Initiative—places particular emphasis on HIV prevention as well as on the education and empowerment of children. Engaging young people in the HIV response was the focus of the coaching session in Bridgetown, which included a discussion around HIV.

"Through this event, the children have loved meeting their favourite players and learning some new skills. At the same time, they have gained awareness about HIV and the importance of treating all people with equal respect and compassion,” said Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team. “Like the cricketers, these children can be agents of change in their families, communities and schools."

A regional Elimination Initiative—led by the Pan American Health Organization—aims to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2015. The Eastern Caribbean, with its smaller disease burden, is expected to reach the target far sooner.

West Indies Cricket Captain, Darren Sammy, participates in media interviews with Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team, at the Kensington Oval stadium in Barbados.
Credit: UNAIDS

At present, mother-to-child transmission of HIV accounts for between 8 and 10 per cent of all HIV infections in the Caribbean. However, some Caribbean countries have either achieved or are close to achieving elimination targets; between 2007 and 2010, for example, there were no new HIV infections recorded among babies in Barbados.

Widespread stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV remains a challenge for PMTCT programmes across the region. Stigma and the fear of unfair treatment prevent some HIV-positive mothers from accessing early antenatal care, abstaining from breastfeeding or making their babies available for follow-up testing and care.

"The Eastern Caribbean can eliminate mother-to-child transmission because we have the means to prevent it," Dr Massiah stressed. "West Indian people can play a part by addressing the negative attitudes and judgments associated with HIV. This would allow mothers across our region to feel safe and confident about accessing life-saving testing, treatment, care and support."

First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba with Pelé during the “CAN without AIDS” campaign event.
Credit: Josh Ponte & David Ignaszewski

On 10 February 2012, Brazilian football legend Pelé took thousands of young people by storm during a beach soccer tournament organized in Gabon alongside the 2012 Coupe d’Afrique des Nations (or “CAN”). After the tournament, “O Rei” Pele joined President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and the First Lady at a beach event organized as part of the “CAN without AIDS” campaign. 

The campaign, launched by the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation—a charitable organization run by Gabon’s First Lady—uses sports as a platform to reach millions of people with messages on HIV prevention across Africa, particularly youth. The campaign received support from UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé as well as Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o and Didier Ovono, captain of Gabon’s national football team.

The beach tournament brought together more than 400 young Gabonese to kick off the last round of the youth-focused AIDS campaign events. Pelé greeted the cheering crowds who were wearing T-shirts with HIV prevention messages.

The host of the event elaborated on the UNAIDS vision of “three zeroes”—Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths—while volunteers were distributing condoms and information on HIV. Gabon has an HIV prevalence of 3.5% among young women aged 15 to 24 and 1.4% among young men of the same age.

“I am ever grateful to the First Lady for her leadership in bringing together national authorities, celebrities and young people to share HIV prevention messages through sport,” said Salvator Niyonzima, UNAIDS Country Coordinator. “UNAIDS will continue to work with the First Lady’s Foundation beyond the CAN 2012 tournament to make the “three zeroes” vision a reality in Gabon,” he added.

First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and young people doing the “three zeroes” sign.
Credit: Josh Ponte & David Ignaszewski

Winners of the tournament were rewarded with front seats at the final of the 2012 African cup, where the president of Gabon had unveiled a statue representing Pelé's bust and dedicated it to him.

Timed with the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the “CAN without AIDS” campaign reached more than 43 000 local people, of which more than 1000 took free HIV screening tests. The campaign will now focus, with support from UNAIDS, on the national HIV response in Gabon, with each quarter of the year dedicated to one of the “three zeroes.”