| Since 1988, the world has been gathering on 1 December to commemorate World AIDS Day. First, these events were a sheer call from the heart to get people and governments to act and invest. Over the last decade, large scale commemorations have taken place to remember those who died of AIDS - to date 36 million people have lost their lives to AIDS. Now, the tone of these gatherings around the world is a bit different - we still remember all those lost to AIDS, but we also celebrate our achievements - we have managed to reverse the course of the HIV epidemic through sustained colossal global actions.
Vienna - La Vida es un CarnavalIn Commemoration of World AIDS Day, there were a variety of events that took place at Vienna International Centre (VIC), reaching out to both staff and the broader Viennese population. The VIC Medical Centre offered free HIV testing to all at the Rotunda while a staff jazz band created a festive and uplifting environment. This year again, the testing campaign was a success as 140 people took up the testing opportunity; setting a new record. Throughout the day with the help of volunteers, AIDS ribbons were distributed with donations which were given to local civil society organisations that work with HIV/AIDS. |
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In the afternoon, UNODC hosted a ceremony in the Rotunda prior to the illumination of the AIDS ribbon on the UN building. Monica Beg, Chief, HIV and AIDS Section, kicked off the event reminding us that World AIDS Day is not only a commemoration of the lives lost to AIDS, but also a celebration in reversing the course of the HIV epidemic. She introduced David Rodriguez-Yanez, a Venezuelan singer, who sang two songs that delivered the right message - "Stand Up for Love", a call to end hopelessness and stand up for life and "
La Vida es un Carnaval", calling for the celebration of life - translating to "Life is a Carnaval". Mr. Aldo Lale-Demoz, Deputy Executive Director and Global Coordinator for HIV/AIDS, made a keynote address saying "
we need to close the gap and empower communities that were left behind, like prisoners and people who inject drugs, to access the services they need". To bring an end to the commemoration, Mr. Lale-Demoz, invited all in attendance to join him for the, now traditional, illumination of the AIDS ribbon. A giant AIDS ribbon was illuminated on the UN Building to reach out to all the Austrians.
The events of the day were made possible with the generous support of UNFCU who has been supporting the UN in Vienna year after year, ensuring that the day receives the attention it deserves. |
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Building on the "Close the Gap" theme, Pakistan reached out to the general public with a ten-day radio programme on HIV prevention and treatment gaps which were aired nationwide.Through radio talk shows and live discussions on strategy and policy, featuring the role and response by the Government of Pakistan as well as the roles of the civil society organisations and the UN in curbing the HIV epidemic in the country. In addition, partner CSOs across all four provinces sites offered free HIV and Hepatitis B and C testing, seminars, awareness sessions and stage shows. UNODC joined other UNAIDS cosponsors in a panel in Islamabad. Mr. Cesar Guedes, Representative, UNODC Pakistan Country Office, shared the mandate and role of UNODC in addressing HIV epidemics among people who use drugs and prisoners. In his talk he highlighted the importance of addressing drug related HIV epidemics and the need to close the prevention and treatment gap to ensure no-one is left behind. |
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With UNODC's support, a series of activities took place in the week mounting up to WAD. These included a range of trainings, sports competitions, a painting competition, and entertainment activities for male and female inmates and their families, and prison staff.
Ehyaye Hayate Sarmad, an Iranian NGO who was a recipient of the 2014 Red Ribbon Award, hosted events in two prisons in Mashhad - Chenaran Occupational Camp and the Central Prison of Mashhad, the second largest and highly populated prison in Iran. A particular attention was given to the tailoring of activities and services for prisoners living with HIV in both prisons. Awareness-raising material in the form of banners, posters, leaflets, pamphlets and brochures were developed for all activities. One of the unique characteristics of the WAD 2014 activities in prisons was the inclusion of the families of prisoners in awareness-raising activities. The families of prisoners who visited the prisons during the implementation of activities were provided with awareness-raising materials, Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services, and brief trainings on HIV/AIDS prevention.
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Tanzania Prisons Service, in collaboration with UNODC, organized a day of commemoration for female prisoners at the Segerea Prison Women's Wing. Prisoners, prison staff and invited guests attended the ceremony for which women prisoners had prepared messages under the theme of " spreading the word and not spreading HIV", Signalling the importance of education and information for the prevention of HIV. The women were able to voice their concerns in an open manner. Issues were raised, such as an increased need for education and information on HIV and AIDS designed for women prisoners. The importance of nutritious food, especially for people living with HIV, was mentioned as a priority. The lack of access to HIV treatment and medical equipment in the prison facility were mentioned, as well as the long duration, in some case, of pre-trial detention . The Assistant Commissioner, Ms. Sania Kigwe, was in attendance and took note of the concerns voiced while also announcing that access mother-to-child transmission of HIV services would now be available to all HIV-infected pregnant women. |
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| UNODC also took the opportunity to share the World AIDS Day message of Mr. Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director; an address calling greater access to comprehensive HIV programmes for people who use drugs and people in prisons. |
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| Nigeria commemorated the day with a three-day long event. On 1 December, UNODC participated in a roadshow that took off from NACA and made stops around the city. Different stakeholdres and members of the civil society participated in event. The next day, UNODC attended a symposium organised by UNAIDS and NACA themed '' Eliminating HIV Stigma and Discrimination". On the third day, UNODC and the European Union conducted a workshop titled, " Consultative and Sensitization Workshop for Media & CSO's on Human Trafficking and HIV". |
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| In partnership with civil society such as, the Indian Drug User Forum (IDUF) and Dayspring, UNODC organised a series of events on the 1 and 2 December; all in keeping with this year's theme of " Close the Gap": |
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The first event kicked off with a visual and musical evening with the theme "Spirit of Positive Living", an event which gathered an audience from public, private and civil society. Opening remarks were delivered from key community figures in the field of HIV/AIDS work, followed by the screening of thematic films on overdose and Women Who Use Drugs and ended with a musical band performance.
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