Be a leader: Media resources available for World AIDS Day, 1 December

none 05 Nov 2007 – 11:52 (modified on 15 Nov 2007 – 10:11)

by Edwin

November 5, 2007 Media Alert from the World AIDS Campaign


“Media can make it happen,” says Allyson Leacock, Executive Director of the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership, highlighting that media are key to the success of World AIDS Day in tackling critical issues fuelling the AIDS epidemic. This World AIDS Day, held on 1 December 2007, will focus on leadership, the theme set by the World AIDS Campaign under the five-year slogan, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”



For Leacock, media are vital leaders in the response to AIDS. “In many societies, policy makers may be unwilling or unable to open up controversial issues, issues many people don’t want to talk about,” she noted. “But media can do their homework and be informed and ask the difficult questions and make the policy makers address issues that are fuelling the stigma that prevent people from coming forward to get the testing, treatment and care that they need.”

The World AIDS Campaign has released media resources for World AIDS Day to assist journalists, editors and broadcasters in covering events and issues. In addition, interviews with leaders from key constituencies affected by and responding to HIV and AIDS, such as positive people, business, media, labour, religion, women, and youth, can be arranged.

Deloris Dockrey, chair of the Board of GNP+ (Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS), for instance, highlights the leadership role HIV positive people are taking. “In the US, it’s been the positive people who have led the challenges against HIV and created a lot of laws and found a way through their advocacy to create change,” she says. It’s the kind of leadership that is spreading throughout the world, she observes, noting that many people who are disadvantaged think they don’t have political clout, “but in many countries they are a voice and a vote” and positive people can take a leading role in campaigns. “Stigma,” she says, “can be addressed through education and people standing up and saying ‘I am here and I am not going anywhere.’”

Business is also tapped to take strong leadership. “The response to HIV and AIDS requires bold leadership and innovation,” says Patricia Mugambi Ndegwa, Africa Director, East and Central Africa Office of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. “The business community has an unparalled opportunity and responsibility to utilize their expertise, influence and acumen in the fight against one of the world’s deadliest pandemics.”

Youth, too, have their role. “As young people, we need to shape the future with our own hands”, says Prateek Suman, Youth Coalition Steering Committee Member. “Although we are young, we have valuable knowledge and experience that we can bring to the table.”

In designating leadership as the World AIDS Day theme for the next two years, the World AIDS Campaign is highlighting both the political leadership needed to fulfil commitments that have been made in the response to HIV and AIDS - particularly the promise of universal access to treatment, prevention, care and, support - and celebrating the leadership that has been witnessed at all levels of society. The World AIDS Campaign has just launched a “Stop AIDS leadership pledge” drive where everyone is encouraged to commit themselves to take the lead to help stop AIDS. Hundreds of pledges have already been made from people in over 65 countries.

“Everybody is affected by HIV,” says Dockrey. “ People shy away from that, but the reality is that everyone is affected and that is why we all have to fight.”

Leacock hopes media will strengthen their leadership as well: “Media have to dig deeper rather than simply covering the story. There are a lot of difficult conversations that have to happen and media can make it happen.”

Resources available:

- World AIDS Day fact sheet for the media

- 30-second PSA in English available in broadcast quality on request

- World AIDS Day events calendar updated daily with information from around the world

- Concise list of key international commitments on HIV and AIDS

All resources can be found here: http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/index.php/en/media__1/media_for_world_aids_day/

Interviews can be arranged with leaders of key networks and groups such as people living with HIV, women, youth, business, labour, media and faith.

For more information or to arrange interviews contact the World AIDS Campaign at media@worldaidscampaign.org, +44 1524 727 651 (UK), +31 20 616 9045 (Netherlands) or +27 21 466 7827 (South Africa).

The World AIDS Campaign supports, strengthens and connects campaigns that hold leaders accountable for their promises on HIV and AIDS. “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.” is the slogan for the World AIDS Campaign from 2005-2010. The World AIDS Campaign has offices in Amsterdam and Cape Town. www.worldaidscampaign.org

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