Dear Colleagues,

Mid year greetings from the World AIDS Campaign!

World AIDS Campaign 2004 - Women and HIV/AIDS

Many of you have been asking about the campaign theme for next year.
Following consultation, it has been decided that the theme will
explore Women and HIV/AIDS. The last time there was a World AIDS Day
focus on women was in 1990. Girls born in 1990 are now reaching
sexual maturity and many are becoming mothers themselves. This `next
generation' provides a useful campaign hook to explore what has
changed since 1990. This, combined with the epidemiological evidence
around gender and infection provides a strong rationale for this
focus. Focus sections on women and HIV/AIDS are also planned for the
International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in July 2004.

World AIDS Campaign 2003

The World AIDS Campaign for 2003 continues with its focus on stigma
and discrimination and a series of challenging brochures and TV spots
are now in distribution under the Live and let live slogan. Copies
are now available from UNAIDS offices.

To fight HIV/AIDS effectively we need to fight stigma and
discrimination. To fight stigma and discrimination we need to start
by examining our own attitudes. The Live and let live campaign
encourages people to reflect on their attitudes. HIV and AIDS can
touch raw nerves in our communities. People have been disowned by
their families, fired from their jobs, asked to leave their homes and
schools and have faced discrimination in hospitals after revealing
their HIV status. In extreme cases they have even been physically
attacked.

The stigma associated with HIV and AIDS relates to deep taboos within
society. For many the disease has a strong association with death,
sex and drug use - issues that many of us find difficult to talk
openly about. Along with a general discomfort in discussing these
issues many communities also still have high levels of ignorance,
denial, fear and intolerance about HIV/AIDS. It is this combination
that can lead to strong negative reactions.

It is not only people currently living with an HIV diagnosis who are
at risk from stigma and discrimination. Left unchallenged these
attitudes can create a general climate of fear where many people
become more afraid of stigma and discrimination than of the disease
itself.

When these conditions prevail people often choose to remain untested –
even if they know they have taken risks. This creates the kind of
environment where the disease can easily spread. We know that people
can live with HIV without appearing or feeling unwell. People who
ignore their real or possible HIV status risk faster disease
progression themselves and risk spreading HIV to others.

Help us fight fear, shame, ignorance and injustice worldwide.

Changes to the World AIDS Campaign
The World AIDS Campaign has traditionally been an awareness raising
campaign encouraging a global focus on specific issues. It is now
looking to broaden its remit to also include political advocacy and
resource mobilization campaigning under its umbrellla by
strengthening the involvement of civil society groups. As soon as we
have more practical information on how we will encouarge this
important shift in emphasis we will let you know.

Very best wishes,
World AIDS Campaign at UNAIDS
E-mail:WAC@...