History of World AIDS Day

Remembering Those with HIV/AIDS on December 1

Oct 27, 2008 Jamie Robertson

For twenty years, World AIDS Day has stood as a time to remind people of the AIDS crisis and to rembmer those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS.

Every year on December 1, organizations, groups, and individuals around the world plan events to participate in World AIDS Day. These events highlight the overwhelming number of individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS and honor those who have passed away. Many organizations also use this time to focus on prevention efforts.

The First World AIDS Day

The first World AIDS Day was organized by the World Health Organization on December 1, 1988. Originally, the day was organized by UNAIDS. UNAIDS chose a new theme each year after consulting with other HIV/AIDS organizations to determine the most pressing topics. In 2005, UNAIDS officially gave responsibility of World AIDS Day to The World AIDS Campaign (WAC), an independent HIV/AIDS organization..

Since WAC took over the campaign, the theme has been “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise.” This theme is meant to target policy makers and health authorities to encourage them to meet the targets that have been set on the way to providing universal access to HIV treatment, care, support, and prevention services by 2010. The theme “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise” will continue until 2010, with sub-themes chosen each year.

Past World AIDS Day Themes

The following have been the themes of World AIDS Day for the past 20 years:

• 2008 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise – Lead- Empower- Deliver
• 2007 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Leadership
• 2006 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Accountability
• 2005 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise
• 2004 - Women, Girls, HIV and 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 - Act
• 1992 - Community Commitment
• 1991 - Sharing the Challenge
• 1990 - Women & AIDS
• 1989 - Youth
• 1988 - Communication

World AIDS Day 2008

For World AIDS Day 2008, the sub-theme is “Lead- Empower- Deliver”. This is the second year that the theme has focused on the topic of leadership. This theme is meant to highlight the fact that many individuals and organization have already offered up their leadership skills, and now policy makers need to find the resources to deliver on their promises. The campaign is calling on everyone, including families, communities, civil society organizations, and governments to take the initiative in helping meet the target goals.

References:

World AIDS Campaign Official Website

World AIDS Day Official Website

The copyright of the article History of World AIDS Day in AIDS/HIV is owned by Jamie Robertson. Permission to republish History of World AIDS Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Red AIDS Ribbon at White House

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Nov 23, 2008 7:39 AM

Guest :

I was under the impression that WAD was created by PLWHA in San Francisco, and subsequently stolen by WHO upon the deaths of those responsible for it's creation. Please correct your information if my eyewitness of this genesis is not correct.

Tim
Living HIV+ since 1983

Nov 24, 2008 7:54 PM

Jamie Robertson :

Tim-
I have found no documentation to say that WAD was created by anyone other than WHO and UNAIDS. This is for the official World AIDS Day that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Please feel free to share any sources you know of that contradict this knowledge.

Jamie

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