World Aids Day 2009

World AIDS Day 2009 on December 1st is an important reminder that HIV and AIDS still pose a huge threat to people all over the world. The theme, which is 'Universal Access and Human Rights' addresses the critical need to protect human rights and attain access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support.

Progress has been made in increasing access to HIV/AIDS services around the world in recent years, yet greater commitment is needed if the goal of universal access is to be achieved. Millions of people continue to be infected with HIV every year. In low and middle income countries, less than half of those in need of antiretroviral therapy are receiving it, and too many do not have access to adequate care services (see WHO, UNAIDS & UNICEF 2009 report, Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector.

According to UNAIDS 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 around 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

An estimated 5.2 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2008. It is believed that in that year alone, over 250,000 South Africans died of AIDS. National prevalence is around 11%, with some age groups being particularly affected. Almost one in three women aged 25 to 29, and over a quarter of men aged 30 to 34, are living with HIV.

Human Rights are Fundamental to Combatting AIDS

The protection of human rights is fundamental to combating the global HIV and AIDS epidemic. Violations against human rights add to the spread of HIV, as these put injecting drug users, sex workers and other marginalised groups at a higher risk of HIV infection. By promoting individual human rights, new infections can be prevented and people who have HIV can live free from discrimination.

World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for everyone to take action to ensure that human rights are protected and that global targets for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care are met.