December 1: World AIDS Day
On December 1, people around the globe commemorate World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. First held on December 1, 1988, World AIDS Day is 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.
According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During the last year, some 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 years old and are killed by AIDS before they reach age 35.
- HRC's World AIDS Day Challenge
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS [unaids.org]
- World AIDS Day Materials [worldaidscampaign.org]
- HIV/AIDS Awareness Days: World AIDS Day [hhs.gov]
