ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

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World AIDS Day, December 1st

Started on December 1st, 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but also about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

World AIDS Day was originally organized by UNAIDS, who chose the theme after consultation with other organizations. In 2005 UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organization known as The World AIDS Campaign.

The WAC’s slogan for their work is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise". This is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and especially the promise of universal access to HIV treatment, care, and support and prevention services by 2010. This campaign will run until 2010, with a related theme chosen for World AIDS Day each year.

The 2007 theme, “leadership”, highlighted the need for innovation, vision and perseverance in the face of the AIDS challenge. The campaign called on all sectors of society such as families, communities and civil society organizations - rather than just governments - to take the initiative and provide leadership on AIDS.

Advocates for Youth believes that youth activists should be at the front of the HIV/AIDS movement. This means that YOU need to plan for action on World AIDS Day. Why?--Because we need to hold our governments accountable for their commitments.

You can start by going to Advocates’ Take Action Center. Here you can urge legislators to support the PATHWAY Act, which would remove the requirement that 33 percent of funding for HIV prevention overseas be spent on abstinence-until-marriage programs.

And, to do even more work towards halting the AIDS pandemic, check out Advocates’ Youth Action Center and download the Fix the GAP Advocacy and Organizing Toolkit. Your advocacy can help save young people’s lives!