Spring Break
2004 worldwide commemoration focuses on women, girls, HIV, AIDS
Shyunti Das
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Sci-Tech
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World AIDS Day, sponsored by the United Nations, the World Health Organization and various other government and civil associations, was commemorated Dec. 1.
Instituted 1988 by the World Health Organization and then held as a campaign by the United Nations in 1997, it aims to raise awareness about the disease, celebrate achievements made in battling the disease and focus on the work still remaining to be done.
The underlying theme chosen for 2004 - women, girls, HIV, AIDS - with the accompanying slogan "Have you heard me today?", seeks to highlight the correlation between women's equality and the transmission and impact of AIDS.
Benefit and awareness events, including concerts, exhibits and conferences, were held worldwide, including the World AIDS Day Commemoration in New York City, hosted by celebrities Gloria Reuben and Alan Cumming, with a keynote speech by Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan.
"What is needed is real, positive change that will give more power and confidence to women and girls...Empowering women in this struggle must be our strategy for the future." Annan said in his UN address.
Executive Director of UNAIDS Peter Piot, in his speech Dec. 1, delivered a similar message, saying "Prevention methods such as the 'ABC' approach - Abstinence, Be Faithful and use Condoms - are good but not enough to protect women where gender inequality is pervasive."
Along with campaign efforts, the AIDS Epidemic Update was released jointly by UNAIDS and WHO Nov. 23. It provides statistics on HIV/AIDS transmission, treatment and deaths globally, broken down by region, and notes specific trends of the epidemic annually.
This year's report also focuses specifically on the impact the disease has on women globally.
Instituted 1988 by the World Health Organization and then held as a campaign by the United Nations in 1997, it aims to raise awareness about the disease, celebrate achievements made in battling the disease and focus on the work still remaining to be done.
The underlying theme chosen for 2004 - women, girls, HIV, AIDS - with the accompanying slogan "Have you heard me today?", seeks to highlight the correlation between women's equality and the transmission and impact of AIDS.
Benefit and awareness events, including concerts, exhibits and conferences, were held worldwide, including the World AIDS Day Commemoration in New York City, hosted by celebrities Gloria Reuben and Alan Cumming, with a keynote speech by Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan.
"What is needed is real, positive change that will give more power and confidence to women and girls...Empowering women in this struggle must be our strategy for the future." Annan said in his UN address.
Executive Director of UNAIDS Peter Piot, in his speech Dec. 1, delivered a similar message, saying "Prevention methods such as the 'ABC' approach - Abstinence, Be Faithful and use Condoms - are good but not enough to protect women where gender inequality is pervasive."
Along with campaign efforts, the AIDS Epidemic Update was released jointly by UNAIDS and WHO Nov. 23. It provides statistics on HIV/AIDS transmission, treatment and deaths globally, broken down by region, and notes specific trends of the epidemic annually.
This year's report also focuses specifically on the impact the disease has on women globally.
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