World AIDS Day 2009

Tuesday, 1 December 2009 | posted by scott.forbes

Today, as you're no doubt aware, is World  AIDS Day, dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV, which has become and still remains a global epidemic.

The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Human Rights & Access to Treatment", which gives us the chance as young people to come together on this day and send a clear strong message to the world, that we will no longer stand for the stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS.

But let us recognise the fact that over the 27 years we have come a long way: death rates are lowering and more people are gaining access to treatment. However, not at a speed we would have wished, with over five million people still without treatment globally, we must and need to see a bigger commitment from the world to deal with this issue.

I ultimately believe that if we as young people come together and unite as one, we can and will make a change; we can be the generation to end the stigma and discrimination, as well as give young people the access they want and require to information on HIV/AIDS, we will also be the generation to ensure everybody has the right they deserve to free treatment. 

The time is now. Together, we can prevent the spread of this pandemic – today you have the chance to make your voices heard by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, by simply emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and in no more than 50 words. Your messages will then be collated together, alongside a number of other organisations, to create one GLOBAL message, so make sure your voice and view is there!