Victoria Beckham was appointed UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador in September 2014 to support the UNAIDS vision of an AIDS-free generation. She will raise awareness in support of the UNAIDS-led Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive and will speak out for young women and girls affected by the epidemic.
Ms Beckham started studying ballet at a young age. She pursued her interest in dance at the Laine Theatre Arts college in the United Kingdom when she was 17 and later achieved global stardom with the Spice Girls. She is now a global businesswoman in charge of her own fashion brand.
Ms Beckham has been engaged in humanitarian issues for many years and has a long-standing interest in the AIDS response. She has been a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation for more than a decade and hopes her new role with UNAIDS will allow her to reach a greater audience with important messages.
“This is the beginning of an important journey for me. As a woman and a mother, I have a responsibility to support other women,” said Ms Beckham. “I am proud and honoured to be working with UNAIDS in this new role to help to raise awareness to support and empower women and children affected by HIV.”
Ms Beckham has participated in high-level advocacy meetings and undertaken fact-finding missions to learn more about the epidemic. She has visited HIV clinics in South Africa, met children and women affected by HIV and learned about different intervention models. While on mission, she saw first-hand what a difference adequate access to treatment and prevention makes.
