Each year, December 1 marks World AIDS Day, when activists around the world come together to raise awareness of the global HIV epidemic, fight stigma and discrimination, and advocate for increased efforts to support comprehensive HIV education and prevention.

This year's theme "Getting to Zero" supports UNAIDS' multi-year Getting to Zero strategy that puts forward three core visions: Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS Related Deaths, and Zero Discrimination. The theme underscores the importance of continuing to focus on preventing new infections, ensuring access to treatment, and ending stigma and discrimination of marginalized communities, such as young people who are living with HIV/AIDS, LGBT, sex workers, and injecting drug users, among others. Thirty years into the epidemic, while there have been important declines in HIV prevalence among young people in some of the most affected countries, 41 percent of all new HIV infections are still among youth age 15-24.

It's easy to get involved on World AIDS Day:

1) Join Advocates' World AIDS Day Blogathon

From December 1 to 8, Advocates will be hosting its annual World AIDS Day blogathon on Amplify as a part of the global movement of young people fighting to end HIV/AIDS. Share your stories about how HIV/AIDS has affected you, post your perspective on HIV policies and programs in your country, reflect on your successes and lessons, or upload pictures or video to share your ideas about where we are today — 30 years into the epidemic.

All new posts will be featured on the blogathon page — and many will be spotlighted on the Amplify home page as well.

2) Sign our petition urging President Obama to stand up and fight for young people this World AIDS Day and every day leading up to and after the International AIDS Conference next July.

In July, the International AIDS Conference will be held in Washington, DC, bringing more than 20,000 delegates from around the world together to discuss scientific research, share best practices, and shape the future policy and program direction of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care efforts. Key players in the global response to AIDS will be in attendance, including Heads of State and foreign dignitaries, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ministers of Health, Parliamentarians and Members of Congress.

We cannot let this opportunity pass by without demanding that the head of the host country, U.S. President Barack Obama, stand up and fight for young people affected by HIV and AIDS.

Click here to learn more about other ways that you get can get involved!