Welcome to World AIDS Campaign Website

The World Health Organization declared the first World AIDS Day in 1988. The day, 1 December, quickly became established as one of the world’s most successful commemorative days and is now recognized and celebrated by a diverse range of constituents every year around the globe. World AIDS Day is celebrated to focus global attention on the HIV/AIDS epidemic across countries, organizations and governments.

World AIDS Day 2008: LEAD-EMPOWER-DELIVER

2008 symbolizes the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, the face and response to AIDS has significantly transformed. While many of the transformations are positive, this anniversary gives us an opportunity to emphasize on how much more still needs to be done.
Leaders from around the globe now recognize the jeopardy of AIDS, and many have devoted to curb the problem. In 2007, almost all nations have national policies on HIV. Yet, most polices have not been fully realized and many are short of funding allocations.
Although treatment for HIV and AIDS has improved and become more pervasive since 1988, many still have no or less access to it – in 2007 only 31% of those in low- to middle-income countries who need treatment received it. Even if there is high HIV awareness around the world, infection rates are still taking place 2.7 times faster than the increase in number of people receiving treatment. .
By and large, real action on HIV and AIDS and human rights is still insufficient. Legal barriers to HIV services still afflict groups such as women, adolescents, sex workers, people who use drugs, and men having sex with men.
Thus, the 2008 World AIDS Day with the team of Lead- Empower – Deliver will advocate that governments must deliver on the promises they have made. Communities must support leadership of its members. Individuals must be empowered to access treatment, to know their rights and to fight against stigma and discrimination, and to know and use methods of prevention against receiving and transmitting HIV.

						On World AIDS Day, individuals from around the world come together to lead the response to AIDS. Each of us has something unique to contribute - from standing up against stigma and discrimination to educating ourselves about HIV prevention, from knowing our status to learning more about the commitments our leaders have made. Our voices can make a difference.
	The response to AIDS depends on the strength of individuals and communities. To halt the epidemic, it is essential to eliminate the social and economic inequalities and injustices that fuel its spread. Empowering individuals and communities to respond to AIDS is a critical and a fundamental part of respecting, protecting and promoting their human rights.
						At the beginning of 2008, one-third of people in low and middle income countries needing antiretroviral treatment and one-third of women requiring drugs to prevent transmission of HIV to their children received them. But to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010, leaders must deliver now.
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise. For more information go to: www.worldaidscampaign.org.