ZERO HIV STIGMA DAY
Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic over four decades ago, 75.5 million people have acquired HIV and 32.7 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Despite transformative biomedical advances, globally we are far from eradicating the virus and achieving zero new infections and zero AIDS-related deaths. We believe many of these ongoing transmissions and deaths could be prevented if it were not for the stigma that exists within the global community toward HIV.
HIV STIGMA is a social justice, human rights, and public health issue. Zero HIV Stigma Day is a global movement uniting people and communities to raise awareness of HIV and take action to eliminate HIV stigma in all its forms. July 21st is a day of action featuring communities living with and affected by HIV, activists, clinicians, influencers, and civil society organizations.
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Launched in 2023 in honor of the late South African AIDS activist Prudence Nobantu Mabele (July 21, 1971-July 10, 2017), Zero HIV Stigma Day is jointly supported by NAZ, IAPAC, GNP+, and the Global HIV Collaborative. Prudence set a precedent to encourage other women living with HIV to discuss their status with loved ones, to live without shame, to seek treatment, and to lead happy and fulfilled lives. We chose Prudence’s birthday to honor her work and tireless activism to end HIV stigma.
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The 2024 campaign theme Beyond Labels: Redefining HIV Narratives seeks to reshape perceptions, inspire empathy, and drive collective action towards a world free from HIV-related stigma. By amplifying diverse voices and stories, this day strives to create a more compassionate and inclusive society for all. Access our Zero HIV Stigma Day toolkit to help amplify and action the Beyond Labels message by redefining HIV narratives. The toolkit includes campaign messages, graphics, and other ideas for you to engage with and in the days leading up to Zero HIV Stigma Day.
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We also encourage everyone to read and widely disseminate the Zero HIV Stigma Consensus Statement, which was released during 2023's Zero HIV Stigma Day. Reflecting input from an Expert Advisory Committee on Lived Experiences with HIV Stigma, the consensus statement includes nine commitments to guide HIV stigma elimination efforts.​​
ACTIVISTS IN ACTION: PRUDENCE MABELE
For 2024's campaign, Naz co-authored a children's book about the life and accomplishments of Prudence Mabele with a dedication from UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. This inspiring story aims to educate young minds about HIV activism, the fight against stigma, and the importance of equal access to treatment.
HIV stigma is a human rights issue. By fostering awareness rooted in facts, we can empower the next generation to continue the movement for a stigma-free world!
2023 CAMPAIGN
HUMAN FIRST
“Human First” was the theme of the inaugural Zero HIV Stigma Day. It emphasises the human first dimension of people living with and affected by HIV while recognising the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Our 2023 campaign achieved endorsements from UNAIDS, the US Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, SANAC Civil Society Forum, Y+ Global, amplifying our mission to end global HIV stigma.