35 Years of World AIDS Day

What is World AIDS Day?

World AIDS Day, a global day held every December 1 and dedicated to awareness of the HIV pandemic, focuses this year on grassroots efforts, with a theme entitled “Let Communities Lead.” The goal of this year’s World AIDS Day is to strengthen groups focused on those living with, at risk of, or affected by HIV. But “communities are being held back in their leadership,” UNAIDS notes. “Funding shortages, policy and regulatory hurdles, capacity constraints, and crackdowns on civil society and on the human rights of marginalized communities, are obstructing the progress of HIV prevention and treatment services. If these obstacles are removed, community-led organizations can add even greater impetus to the global HIV response, advancing progress towards the end of AIDS.”

The World Health Organization, a major driver of World AIDS Day, describes the annual event as “an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world. It has become one of the most widely recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have died, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.”

Happy Birthday World AIDS Day!

For 35 years, World AIDS Day has brought the public’s attention back to a pandemic that was either largely misunderstood or, now, mostly ignored by the mainstream media. World AIDS Day is more important than ever since younger generations don’t feel the same urgency with HIV as their parents and grandparents did, even though the disease has taken over 40 million people from us.

We’re all aware of the progress in testing, treatment, and prevention since those horrifying days of the 1980s. While stigma remains one of the driving factors behind HIV’s persistence, World AIDS Day has chipped away at ignorance surrounding the disease by employing celebrities, politicians, health officials, and people living with HIV to tell the truth about the disease and explain how we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

Today there will be events related to HIV awareness heldaround the globe, with many fitting into the theme of communities and the importance of local responsibility. Visit hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/world-aids-day to see how you can take part.

Scroll down to see some images of historic World AIDS Day events that broke the silence on HIV.

35 Years of World AIDS Day

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