Universal Access and Human Rights:
The Theme for World AIDS Day 2010
Understanding HIV and AIDS from a human rights perspective can be difficult. Human rights are often misunderstood - and can sometimes be seen as abstract ideals - with not much practical relevance for real people.
With "Universal Access and Human Rights" being the theme of this year's World AIDS Day, the key slogans are:
- I am accepted.
- I am safe.
- I am getting treatment.
- I am well.
- I am living my rights.
- Everyone deserves to live their rights.
- Right to Live.
- Right to Health.
- Access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is a critical part of human rights.
The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, every year UN agencies, governments and all sectors of civil society worldwide join together to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS.
The 2010 World AIDS Day theme, “Universal Access and Human Rights,” was highlighted in events around the globe by the Light For Rights campaign, organized by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research; UNAIDS; the World AIDS Campaign; and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Light for Rights events 
were held all over the world on World AIDS Day 2010. The events encourage 100 cities to dim the lights on public landmarks to remember the devastating affect AIDS has had, and then to turn the lights back on - to illuminate the fundamental human rights shared by all - but often denied people living with HIV.