What is World AIDS Day?
World AIDS Day has taken place on December 1st every year since 1988.
It provides an opportunity to draw attention to the HIV epidemic around the world. Many people choose to organise an event on or around December 1st, to raise awareness of HIV, to remember loved ones who have died, to show solidarity with people living with HIV, to celebrate survival and health, and to raise money for HIV and related causes.
For many people the day is associated with the red ribbon, an instantly recognisable symbol. Wearing a red ribbon is a simple way to show your support, and there are also many other ways in which you can get involved.
Themes
Every year there is a theme for World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is ‘My Health, My Right’. The campaign will “aim to increase the visibility around the need to achieve the full realization of the right to health by everyone, everywhere.”
Individual countries can also choose to interpret the themes in their own ways.
The UK’s National AIDS Trust (NAT) produces a World AIDS Day website and materials each year. This year, NAT’s campaign is ‘Let’s End It’. The campaign aims to “End isolation. End stigma. End HIV transmission.”
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