HIV/AIDS Stand Up for Human Rights Campaign - Global
On December 10 2003 (Human Rights Day), the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Joint Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a colourful, interactive cartoon for young people that is designed to raise awareness and mobilise action. The partners hope that this cartoon will empower young people to promote human rights in relation to HIV/AIDS,raise awareness of the key linkages between HIV/AIDS and human rights, demystify the disease, and combat the myths and taboos associated with HIV/AIDS.
The cartoon complements ongoing works. On World AIDS Day, December 1 2003, WHO and UNAIDS launched the "3 by 5" strategy. The strategy is the roadmap for providing 3 million people living with AIDS with antiretroviral therapy by the end of 2005. WHO, UNAIDS, and OHCHR are committed to addressing stigma and discrimination as a contribution to the new 3 by 5 initiative. They claim that there is good evidence that the provision of antiretroviral therapy helps address these issues, since people who have the possibility for treatment are more likely to come forward, be tested, and promote more openness about HIV/AIDS.
The cartoon complements ongoing works. On World AIDS Day, December 1 2003, WHO and UNAIDS launched the "3 by 5" strategy. The strategy is the roadmap for providing 3 million people living with AIDS with antiretroviral therapy by the end of 2005. WHO, UNAIDS, and OHCHR are committed to addressing stigma and discrimination as a contribution to the new 3 by 5 initiative. They claim that there is good evidence that the provision of antiretroviral therapy helps address these issues, since people who have the possibility for treatment are more likely to come forward, be tested, and promote more openness about HIV/AIDS.
Communication Strategies
Using language and characters designed to be accessible to young people worldwide, the cartoon explains how HIV is transmitted, and how individuals can protect themselves. The publication begins with a glossary-like explanation of various terms; then 6 diverse characters encounter various situations that test their beliefs and mobilise them to speak out against the stigma and discrimination that impedes discussion of HIV/AIDS and the care of those infected and affected by the disease. This process culminates in the creation and staging of a public demonstration outside a health clinic that has discriminated against an HIV-positive family member of one of the characters. This story sets out to combat HIV/AIDS-related discrimination by illustrating how lack of awareness about HIV/AIDS can contribute to stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations against people affected by HIV/AIDS - for example, on the part of their peers and health professionals. It shows how discrimination based on gender can hinder people's ability to protect themselves from HIV infection and also prevent people from accessing needed treatment, care, and support.
The cartoon is interactive, and is designed to inspire creative youth mobilisation against HIV/AIDS-related rights violations. One page of the cartoon is left blank, save for a character looking directly at the reader and saying "Draw your own poster for a campaign on HIV/AIDS discrimination". Similarly, the last page of the booklet, headlined by the words "Write down your ideas on how you can take action", is a strategy for encouraging advocacy on the part of young readers.
In order to maximise the positive impact ofthis cartoon, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR plan to translate, adapt, and distribute it widely and encourage its use as a tool for education and training. Click here to download the English version in PDF format.
The cartoon is interactive, and is designed to inspire creative youth mobilisation against HIV/AIDS-related rights violations. One page of the cartoon is left blank, save for a character looking directly at the reader and saying "Draw your own poster for a campaign on HIV/AIDS discrimination". Similarly, the last page of the booklet, headlined by the words "Write down your ideas on how you can take action", is a strategy for encouraging advocacy on the part of young readers.
In order to maximise the positive impact ofthis cartoon, WHO, UNAIDS and OHCHR plan to translate, adapt, and distribute it widely and encourage its use as a tool for education and training. Click here to download the English version in PDF format.
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS, Rights, Children, Youth, Gender.
Partners
WHO, UNAIDS, OHCHR.
Sources
Letter sent from Tanya Norton to The Communication Initiative on January 21 2004; and "New cartoon for young people to raise awareness and mobilize action to tackle HIV/AIDS" on the WHO site.
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