From 26 November to 12 December, an exhibition "AIDS: the time to act" dedicated to World AIDS Day runs in the Documents of International Organizations Reading Room (room 207g).
The idea of this day was offered by the World Health Organization (WHO), and it was supported by the representatives of 140 countries. 1 December 1988 was the first time to be celebrated. After a call for social tolerance and the exchange of information on HIV/AIDS had been heard at the health ministers’ meeting of countries included in the WHO, the UN General Assembly stressed the importance of World AIDS Day and stated in its resolution (A/RES/43/15) to celebrate it on 1 December each year.
This day became one of the most important international days related to health issues. On 1 December, millions of people around the world come together to honor the memory of those who died of HIV, noting the progress made in combating HIV/AIDS and to reaffirm their commitment to put the end to this epidemic.
According to the UN, there are more than 35 million people with HIV. Every day 7 400 people become HIV-positive and 5, 00 people die from AIDS-related illnesses. Realizing the increasing complexities associated with HIV/AIDS, the United Nations established the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 1996. UNAIDS supports the long-term global project to prevent HIV infection and AIDS, helping fight for the rights of all persons, regardless of their HIV status, provides assistance to countries around the world in research on HIV/AIDS.
Each year, World AIDS Day is held under various slogans that reflect the currently problems. "Moving towards zero new HIV infections" is a theme chosen this year for the campaign of the Day. Achieving the goal of "zero" is a common strategic objective in the field of HIV until 2015, UNAIDS stated: "Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths. "
Only a few years ago, the idea that AIDS be stopped in the near future, seemed to be unreal, but science, political support and response, with the participation of the population, begin to give clear and visible results. According to UNAIDS, in 2010 the number of people dying from AIDS has declined to 1.8 millions, while in the mid-2000s – at the peak – the number was 2.2 millions. The number of new HIV infections was 2.7 millions. It is 15 % less than in 2001 and 21 % less than the number of new HIV infections in 1997 when epidemic has reached its peak.
The fight against HIV is also actively waged in our country. Over the past few years there has been a great progress in the prevention and treatment of HIV infection. A program was signed – the State Program on HIV Prevention for 2011–2015, reflecting goals, objectives and priorities specific to the spread of HIV infection in the country. The objectives of the program are the spread of HIV infection in the Republic of Belarus and decline in mortality from AIDS.
The exhibition contains more than 60 documents of international organizations (UN, UNESCO, the European Union, the Council of Europe, etc.) in Russian and English: books, periodicals, mimeographed materials of the UN, brochures and booklets.
The exhibition consists of the following sections:
- The AIDS epidemic: a global review.
- What is AIDS and its impact on people and society, treatment and care;
- HIV/AIDS prevention.
- International cooperation to confront HIV/AIDS. The activities of UNAIDS.
- AIDS and human rights.
- State policy on HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Belarus.
The exhibition is made for social and health workers, police officers, academics and students, teachers and parents, as well as all those who are interested in issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Contact telephone: (+375 17) 293 27 34.
Useful links
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
- Council's efforts to fight HIV/AIDS
- High Level Meeting on AIDS (June 8–10, 2011)
- XVIII International Conference on HIV/AIDS (Vienna, Austria, 18–23 July, 2010)
- New HIV recommendations to improve health, reduce infections and save lives
- General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (25–27 June 2001)
- HIV/AIDS: UNICEF materials
- UN works to stop HIV/AIDS
- World AIDS Day
Documents
- UNAIDS on World AIDS Day 2011
- UNAIDS report "Responding to AIDS”
- Report on the global AIDS epidemic (2008)
- Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: intensifying our efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS (2011)
- Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High-Level Meeting on AIDS, June 2, 2006
- Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted at the 26th session of the General Assembly, June 27, 2001
- The Vienna Declaration
