TAKE THE LEAD. STOP AIDS. KEEP THE PROMISE

30 November 2007, Geneva – This year’s World AIDS Day
celebrates the leaders and communities worldwide who are
setting examples, taking initiatives and helping the world to keep
its promise to act on AIDS.

“Leadership can change the tide,” Director- General Margaret Chan said in her message to commemorate the day.“This can be leadership at the highest level of government, or leadership by a public figure who sets an example by speaking openly about AIDS and the need to fight stigma. Leadership has multiple other faces and forms, from foreign policy to corporate social responsibility and support from religious leaders and civil society.”
Last year, leaders of UN Member States committed to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. More than 2.5 million people in developing countries are now receiving life-lengthening antiretroviral drugs. As a result, HIV infections in many countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Keyna are now declining. This year’s WHO/UNAIDS report suggests that prevention efforts are leading to fewer new infections and that greater access to treatment is contributing to fewer HIV-associated deaths.
On Saturday, 1 December, events to celebrate the World Aids Day will start at WHO at 10 hours, when children of staff working in UN agencies in Geneva will be able to participate in “a high-impact simulation exercise” called Wild Fire. The aim of the activity is to help teenagers understand what it is like be HIV infected, or be affected by the epidemic even if they are not infected themselves. The organizers of the event say they succeed where most parents fail.
Moving into Geneva old town, runners participating in the Course de l’Escalade, the annual race to celebrate the defeat of a surprise attack on Geneva by mercenary troops, will be using the event to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.
The event is open to all age groups and athletic abilities and provides lively entertainment for spectators too. At 17 hours an inter-religious service with choir singing will take place at the Temple de la Fusterie, and will be followed at 18 hours 15 by a candlelight march leaving from Place de la Fusterie in the direction of Place de la Navigation. The procession will head towards Dialogai, where there will be live music, speeches and mulled wine.
To round off the day, a Lebanese dinner will be held at the Maison de Quartier des Paquis (for reservations call Groupe SIDA, Genève 022 700 15 00). The day will end with dancing at the Salle du Faubourg. The “Soiree 360 Fever” dance party will kick off at 22 hours and all proceeds will be donated to organizations helping people with HIV/AIDS.