1 December is World AIDS Day, and CAFE is joining friends, partners and stakeholders in showing support for people living with HIV and commemorating those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

Globally, an estimated 38 million people have HIV and more than 35 million people have died from HIV / AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is 'Global solidarity, shared responsibility'.

World AIDS Day is important because, particularly in the current global situation, it reminds the public and governments that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

People living with HIV still face persecution in many countries and, although great strides have been made in improving understanding, the stigma around HIV and AIDS still impacts on many people across the world.

Scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV, and we understand so much more about the condition. Despite this, it is estimated by UNAIDS that there could be 123,000 to 293,000 additional new HIV infections and 69,000 to 148,000 additional AIDS-related deaths between 2020 and 2022.

Today on World AIDS Day, we join with organisations across the world in solidarity with people living with HIV and those working to raise wider awareness of HIV / AIDS.

For more information, visit the World AIDS Day and UNAIDS websites.

Published 1/12/2020