World AIDS Day 2009 – “Universal access and human rights”
1 December 2009
This year’s theme is “Human Rights and Universal Access,” which highlights the ongoing and critical need to protect human rights and provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. AIDS remains one of the leading causes of premature death globally and whilst some gains have been made in overcoming the epidemic, it is not beaten in any part of the world, in fact in some areas such as China and Indonesia it is on the rise.
Speaking at a special event on World AIDS Day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said:
On World AIDS Day this year, our challenge is clear: we must continue doing what works, but we must also do more, on an urgent basis, to uphold our commitment to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. This goal can be achieved only if we shine the full light of human rights on HIV. That means countering any form of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. It means eliminating violence against women and girls. It means ensuring access to HIV information and services.
girls worldwide say “stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases”
HIV and AIDS is not somebody else’s problem, it is something everybody can contribute to help solving. In the WAGGGS Adolescent Health Global Survey, nearly a quarter of girls surveyed know somebody living with AIDS and 37 percent of girls said they wanted WAGGGS to talk to world leaders about HIV AIDS, a higher score than any other issue.
Whether you are directly affected by the disease or live in a country not overly burdened by HIV infection, you can be part of the solution.
- Earn a Global Action Theme (GAT) badge and learn about HIV AIDS. Download the GAT activity pack here.
- Undertake the AIDS Badge curriculum. Download the curriculum here.
- Member Organizations can use the AIDS training toolkit to equip leaders in their organization with the knowledge, experience and tools to support girls and young women in combating this disease. Purchase the toolkit here.
- Tell 10 girls 10 facts about HIV AIDS - WAGGGS has prepared a fact card and an AIDS quiz in 16 languages for you to download here.
- Learn about best practice HIV AIDS projects by reading the WAGGGS publication ‘HIV/AIDS Fighting Ignorance and Fear’ which showcases best practice examples of HIV and AIDS projects of Member Organizations in the areas of education, awareness raising and care and support.
- Do some of the activities from the 2009 WTD activity pack- The theme for World Thinking Day in 2009 was girls worldwide say “stop the spread of HIV AIDS, malaria and other diseases” and this is still a useful resource
- Nominate an expert, including yourself! - Nominate an HIV AIDS savvy Girl Guide/Girl Scout as a WAGGGS subject matter expert. The experts will contribute to WAGGGS’ position statements on HIV AIDS and give advice for campaigns and projects. They will contribute to training materials and help mentor other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts on the topic. Send the nomination, including a short Guiding CV, to bernadette@wagggsworld.org
- Use WAGGGS position statement on HIV AIDS to influence decision makers. You can download it here
- Tell us about your project - Submit your HIV AIDS project as a best practice case study. WAGGGS will use your example to showcase how Girl Guides and Girl Scouts tackle the HIV AIDS pandemic, which will help other people deliver similar projects. We will also use your story in publications and promotional material to spread the word about the amazing work Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are doing around the world. Send the project description including contact details of the responsible person to bernadette@wagggsworld.org
- Watch this space for calls for nominations for youth delegates to the AIDS conference in Vienna in July 2010, where you can represent the voice of girls and young women to world leaders on this important issue
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