A Global Family Matter - World AIDS Day 2003

The theme for World AIDS Day 2003 is "Live and Let Live" - a concept aimed at focusing attention on the deep stigma and rampant discrimination which is fuelling the pandemic in relationships of all kinds: partnerships, families, communities and workplaces across the globe. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was quoted this week as saying that the world is losing the struggle against HIV/AIDS, with infection rates climbing on key continents and social decimation resulting from widespread illness and death.

In our own country, more and more often we learn in the news of well-known figures passing away, with the cause of their death being described as "a family matter". Indeed, such are the levels of stigma and silence around the epidemic within our society that this phrase: "a family matter", has become, in many instances, a euphemism for an AIDS-related death. Ironically, if more of us recognised that HIV/AIDS is indeed a matter concerning each of us as members of one human family, perhaps our struggle against the epidemic could come that much closer to victory.

The sheer number of global HIV infections makes HIV/AIDS not only a global issue, but a personal one too. HIV/AIDS affects every person and every aspect of human life, in some way. World AIDS Day is not only focused on fundraising, but also serves to concentrate awareness efforts on urgent needs and social issues, to inform the public by releasing relevant, accurate facts, to fight prejudice, and to remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS.

To observe World AIDS Day 2003, you can:

• create awareness of HIV/AIDS within your family sphere, in your workplace and around your neighbourhood
• wear a red ribbon, and ask others to do the same
• find out more about protecting yourself, and educate others about safe sex for them and for their partners
• raise money for an organisation working at the coalface of HIV/AIDS - search the HIVAN database for an organisation in need of funding.