First ‘Zero HIV Stigma Day’ launched July 21
A new annual international HIV awareness event called Zero HIV Stigma Day was launched on July 21 in the United States and Europe as a means of drawing attention to how stigma and bias against people with HIV hurts efforts to end the HIV pandemic, according to the event’s organizers. “The day aims to unite people, communities, and entire countries to raise awareness about and take action to end the global HIV epidemic,” according to a statement released by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), one of four organizations leading efforts related to Zero HIV Stigma Day. “This year’s theme, ‘Human First,’ emphasizes the human dimension of people living with and affected by HIV and reinforces that any form of stigma encountered by people living with HIV is a human rights violation,” the statement continues. “Given persistent levels of HIV stigma experienced in health and other settings, IAPAC and our partners launched a new global awareness day focused on ending HIV stigma in all its forms,” said Jose M.
Zuniga, president and CEO of IAPAC. “We can only succeed in our efforts to end the global HIV pandemic if we end the gross violation of human rights that stigma represents for people living with and affected by HIV,” Zuniga said.
The other organizations involved in leading efforts to launch Zero HIV Stigma day include the British-based NAZ, which describes itself as a minority-led HIV and sexual health agency that delivers HIV care and support to racial minorities; Global HIV Collaborative, a partnership of global leaders and activists that seeks to improve HIV outcomes for Black communities globally; and Fast-Track Cities Institute, which says it supports cities and municipalities worldwide in
