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According
to UNAIDS estimates for 2004, there were 35.7 million adults and 2.1
million children living with HIV at the end of 2003, and during the year
4.8 million new people became infected with the virus. Around half of all
people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are
killed by AIDS before they are 35. 95% of the total number of people with HIV/AIDS
live in the developing world. But HIV still remains a threat to people of
all ages and nationalities.
Women,
Girls, HIV and AIDS is the theme of the 2004 World AIDS day. Around
the world there are many different ways in which HIV and AIDS affect women.
Among them are :
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Transmission.
HIV/AIDS has been thought of in the past as a disease mainly affecting
gay men or drug users. In fact, in 2004, most HIV infections come from
heterosexual sex. And in heterosexual sex, women are more likely to
become infected than are men.
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Mother
to child transmission of HIV accounted for 90% of all babies
infected in 2003. A drug is cheaply available to greatly reduce the
chances of this occurring, but it fails to be provided to many women
around the world. HIV can also be transmitted by breast milk, which is
easily substituted for artificial alternatives – also, often
unavailable.
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Sexual
violence is an issue affecting women everywhere in the world.
It can be even more damaging when it involves the transmission,
sometimes deliberate, of HIV. A new and alarming phenomenon that has
been seen in the past decade is the use of HIV as a weapon of war. In
conflict areas such as Rwanda and Kosovo there have been reports of
thousands of women being raped and purposely infected with HIV as part
of a campaign of 'ethnic cleansing'.
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Discrimination
is an issue which has affected women for many decades. It can impact
on their job prospects, their economic and social position, their
access to healthcare and education. Women who have HIV may experience
discrimination on two fronts, and if the healthcare services
discriminate against them, their lives can be shortened as a result.
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Men
are the most common route of HIV transmission to women. In fact, most
women infected with HIV have caught the virus from a husband or
partner.
In order
for HIV to be effectively tackled on an international level, efforts need
to be made to
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End
the discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS.
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Educate
people in safer sex and drug use, using appropriate media.
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Provide
condoms freely to people in the developing world.
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Provide
financial and medical assistance so that people with HIV and AIDS can
be treated.
Started in
1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but also about
raising awareness, education and fighting prejudice. World AIDS Day is
also important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that
there are many things still to be done.
The
theme for World AIDS Day
Each year
there is a particular theme chosen for World AIDS Day, and for the last
fourteen years the themes have been as follows:
2004
Women & AIDS
2003
Stigma & Discrimination
2002
Stigma & Discrimination
2001
I care. Do you?
2000
AIDS : Men make a difference
1999
Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children & Young People
1998
Force For Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People
1997
Children Living in a World with AIDS
1996
One World, One Hope
1995
Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities
1994
AIDS & the Family
1993
Time to Act
1992
Community Commitment
1991
Sharing the Challenge
1990
Women & AIDS
1989
Youth
1988
Communication
The
Red Ribbon
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The
Red Ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is
worn by people all year round and particularly around world AIDS
day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to
remind others of the need for their support and commitment.
The
red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort, and as a
result there is no official red ribbon, and many people make their
own. It’s easily done – just use some ordinary red ribbon and
a safety pin!
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How
you can support world AIDS Day
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By
raising awareness of HIV and AIDS in your area.
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By
wearing a red ribbon, and asking others to do the same.
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Protect
yourself - this is the first and best way to stop the spread of HIV.
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If you
are worried - get tested.
At
school or work
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Have a
dressing up, down or fancy dress day
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Put up
some posters - get people talking
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Sell
red ribbons
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Organise
a creative writing/poster campaign
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Set up
a debate or a quiz – there’re lots of ideas for topics on our site
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Cook
an international meal or have a cake sale
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Arrange
a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release
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Get
your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their feelings
and expand their knowledge about AIDS
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Use
your imagination!
Put
up a display
Putting up
a display, whether at work, school or in a public library or shopping
centre or mall, is an excellent way of raising awareness of HIV and
creating discussion. There are some posters and booklets on the site on
our resource page and these can be downloaded
and printed out as part of your display. |
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