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| Global Staff Team with AIDS ribbon , Dec. 1 - 2009 |
World AIDS Day was established on 1st December 1988. At that time the focus was on raising funds, fighting discrimination, improving education, and increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS. 21 years later, this day is still recognised as one of the most important annual events in the campaign to address this global pandemic.
HIV and AIDS continue to affect the lives of women, young people, families, and communities throughout the world. According to the UN Secretary General’s Report to the High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS held in New York in 2008, “most countries are struggling to meet the target of achieving universal access for treatment of HIV by 2010 and of halting and reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS by 2015”.
World Aids Day is an opportunity to reiterate the YMCA’s support and commitment to taking solid action in fighting HIV and AIDS. For many years, YMCAs around the world have been addressing HIV/AIDS from the local community level, up to policy issues at the national, regional and international level. YMCA actions range from peer education programmes, to research and public advocacy, all aimed at addressing the specific needs of young people, women and children, living in vulnerable situations.
In particular, the YMCA has been pioneering efforts to address HIV and AIDS from a gender perspective, focusing on the role of masculinities. The stereotypical culture of masculinity often emphasises promiscuity and risk-taking. This can put men in danger of contracting HIV and spreading the disease without considering their vulnerability to infection. In many societies, masculinity is associated with being sexually active with multiple partners. Programmes that provide holistic education and focus on behavioral change can therefore help in reducing the prevalence rate of HIV. The YMCA continues to work with young men and women, giving them the opportunity to reflect on and challenge traditional notions of masculinity, and their role in the spread of HIV.
On World AIDS Day 2009, the World Alliance of YMCAs joins other international and faith-based organisations in raising a global voice for concerted action on HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme, Human Rights and Universal Access, has been chosen to promote the critical need to protect human rights and ensure universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. This special Day is also a call to countries to remove laws that discriminate against people living with HIV (PLHIV). The World Alliance of YMCAs will be participating in a series of events organised in Geneva, Switzerland including a “Human Red Ribbon”, Ecumenical Worship Service and Session on HIV Prevention. For more information please visit: World AIDS Campaign and see PDF flyer below. (in English and French)
On the occasion of this commemorative Day, the World Alliance of YMCAs also affirms the Movement’s call for:
> The availability of affordable drug therapy and the development of policies that allow the manufacture of affordable generic anti-retroviral drugs. This is a crucial step in ensuring that developing countries can afford to provide the level of care that PLHIV in their countries so desperately need.
> Collective action at local, national, regional and global levels including stronger programme coordination, greater financial commitment and accountability as well as local ownership aimed at realising the goals of universal access by 2010.
> Partnership with young people by ensuring their involvement in the development of programmes and policies and in decision-making on issues that affect them.
> Gender specific programmes that explore the diverse dynamics of HIV and AIDS and its effects on both men and women. This will provide a clearer understanding of the needs of both sexes, and thus inform the design of programmes and projects that can best address them.
As one of the oldest and largest youth organisations in the world, youth leadership and empowerment is a key feature of the World Alliance of YMCAs’ Global Plan of Action on HIV and AIDS. It calls for active participation and capacity building of youth and puts emphasis on youth-led programs. The World Alliance of YMCAs encourages all YMCA National Movements to join the global community in the observance of World AIDS Day 2009 by organising a campaign or activities. Please kindly share news of your activities with the World Alliance by writing to: rebecca(at)ymca.int.
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See our Photo Gallery of:
World Aids Day 2009 - Place des Nations Geneva, Switzerland
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| Rémy Pagani (left, Mayor of Geneva) during World AIDS - 2009, Gleeson Job (right), Young Professional - World Alliance of YMCAs, |
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From 28 July 28 to 10 August 2008, 14 YMCA representatives from 10 countries will be in Mexico City to participate in the 17th International AIDS Conference. more+
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| HIV and AIDS |
At its 2002 World Council in Mexico, the World Alliance of YMCAs adopted a resolution identifying HIV and AIDS as a key priority for the whole movement.
Full text of the resolution
Acknowledging the devastating impact HIV and AIDS has on young people, their families and communities, especially in the developing world, YMCA movements around the world are undertaking programmes aimed at HIV prevention, promoting the rights and meaningful involvement of people living with HIV, gender justice, advocacy and the care of children orphaned by AIDS and other groups with special vulnerabilities to HIV. With a combined constituency of around 45 million, mainly young people, youth leadership and empowerment are key features of the Global Plan of Action on HIV and AIDS (you can download below the full pdf version of the Plan of Action).
It calls for active participation and capacity building of youth and puts emphasis on youth-led programmes.
The World Alliance of YMCAs is committed to working for the prevention of HIV and AIDS, countering stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV and AIDS, fighting gender inequality and caring for orphans and children who are vulnerable as a result of HIV and AIDS.
These facts must change
HIV and AIDS is still one of the most urgent challenges facing our world today:
More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.
At the end of 2007, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 61% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
In developing and transitional countries, 9.7 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.99 million (31%) are receiving the drugs.
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