Background Information
"The General Assembly, in 1988, stated its deep concern about the pandemic proportions of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared 1 December 1988 World AIDS Day, the Assembly stressed the importance of observing that occasion (resolution 43/15). Today, some 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS."
Source: Reference Paper 45
World AIDS Day: Focusing on Accountability
The theme for World AIDS Day is accountability, which has been the constant theme of World AIDS Campaign throughout 2006, and which will be promoted on 1st December with the slogan, Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.
The theme of accountability was developed by the World AIDS Campaign support team based on their ongoing work around World AIDS Day, and based on the outcomes of the London HIV and AIDS Campaigning and Advocacy meeting in February 2005. A number of lessons have been learnt from previous work on World AIDS Day, and far more energy is being invested early in the year to make World AIDS Day 2006 a success. The most significant aspect of this World AIDS Day is the degree to which it has been based around the inputs of a wide range of civil society partners.
During World AIDS Day 2006, we hope to achieve the following objectives:
- Enhanced accountability from political leaders on their promises on AIDS.
- Supporting a broad movement of civil society organisations campaigning to develop their sense of joint identity and common purpose.
- Generating a greater public awareness of, and engagement with, the problem of AIDS worldwide
More information on the observance
- The UN Works: In their own words, AIDS activists speak out
Read inspiring the stories of courage and action by Charlotte Mjele, Tom Viola, Danny Glover, Wendy Fitzwilliam, and Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha. - World Health Organization - World AIDS Day 2006
The slogan of the World AIDS Campaign in 2001–2010 remains "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise". As part of this, World AIDS Day 2006 will emphasize the theme of accountability.
People and organizations around the world are expected to campaign on 1 December 2006 to promote enhanced accountability from leaders on their commitments and generate greater public awareness and engagement on the problem of AIDS worldwide.
WHO and UN agencies will hold a public event at the WHO/UNAIDS Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. On 1 December, WHO regional and country offices will join partner events throughout the world. - UNESCO commemorates World AIDS Day 2006
UNESCO will commemorate World AIDS Day, 1 December 2006 with a series of events around the world. Events organised and/or co-organised by UNESCO include forums, workshops, conferences and other interacting and awareness-raising sessions. - World AIDS Day 2006 in the world of work (ILO)
A wide variety of events are planned in the world of work on 1 December to mark World AIDS Day 2006, ranging from workplace events to forming of "human AIDS ribbons" as a way of saying "let's stand up and be counted," according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).