Remembering Those with HIV/AIDS on December 1
For twenty years, World AIDS Day has stood as a time to remind people of the AIDS crisis and to remember those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS.
Every year on December 1, organizations, groups, and individuals around the world plan events to participate in World AIDS Day. These events highlight the overwhelming number of individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS and honor those who have passed away. Many organizations also use this time to focus on prevention efforts.
The First World AIDS Day
The first World AIDS Day was organized by the World Health Organization on December 1, 1988. Originally, the day was organized by UNAIDS. UNAIDS chose a new theme each year after consulting with other HIV/AIDS organizations to determine the most pressing topics. In 2005, UNAIDS officially gave responsibility of World AIDS Day to The World AIDS Campaign (WAC), an independent HIV/AIDS organization..
Since WAC took over the campaign, the theme has been “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise.” This theme is meant to target policy makers and health authorities to encourage them to meet the targets that have been set on the way to providing universal access to HIV treatment, care, support, and prevention services by 2010. The theme “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise” will continue until 2010, with sub-themes chosen each year.
Past World AIDS Day Themes
The following have been the themes of World AIDS Day for the past 20 years:
· 2008 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise – Lead – Empower – Deliver
· 2007 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise – Leadership
· 2006 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise – Accountability
· 2005 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise
· 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
World AIDS Day 2008
For World AIDS Day 2008, the sub-theme is “Lead – Empower – Deliver”. This is the second year that the theme has focused on the topic of leadership. This theme is meant to highlight the fact that many individuals and organization have already offered up their leadership skills, and now policy makers need to find the resources to deliver on their promises. The campaign is calling on everyone, including families, communities, civil society organizations, and governments to take the initiative in helping meet the target goals.
By Jamie Robertson
The above information thankfully comes from the aidshiv.suite101.com at the following link.
