On 15 February, on the margins of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, UNAIDS launched the ProTest HIV campaign.
The event was held to raise HIV awareness among young people in Berlin and to engage them in the response to HIV through #ProTESTHIV and #GenEndit. It attracted young people from across Germany to engage with representatives of the German Government and the German AIDS organization AIDS Hilfe and with Kweku Mandela, AIDS activist and grandson of Nelson Mandela. The participants listened to the moving testimony of Bjorn Beck, the community representative of people living with HIV on the board of AIDS Hilfe, who not only inspired the audience but also reminded everyone why it is essential to keep younger generations engaged in the AIDS response.
The world has committed to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Almost 37 million people around the world were living with HIV in 2014—half of whom did not know that they are HIV-positive.
HIV testing is key to preventing and treating HIV. UNAIDS is working with young people to ensure they have the right information and access to HIV testing, prevention and treatment services. By raising awareness through the ProTest HIV campaign, UNAIDS is empowering young people take action and make informed decisions.
“Our generation has never known a world without HIV. You have the power to change the world for the generations that will come after us.”
Kweku Mandela, AIDS activist and grandson of Nelson Mandela
“UNAIDS has set global targets to achieve by 2020, including ensuring that 90% of people living with HIV know their HIV status. We need the support and engagement of young people to reach this global goal.”
Mariangela Bavicchi, Chief, Resource Mobilization
“The biggest obstacle that people encounter on their way to getting tested is HIV-related stigma. People who know that they’ll be discriminated against—ostracized—when they are HIV-positive, they don’t want to get tested. If we want testing to be appealing, we must fight against discrimination.”
Holger Wicht, AIDS Hilfe
“Only an educated, respectful and accepting society, in which people living with HIV are integrated, can face the challenges of HIV successfully. We will fight the stigma, we will promote HIV testing and we will end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”
Björn Beck, representative of the community of people living with HIV, AIDS Hilfe board
