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UNAIDS Terminology Guidelines

01 July 2024

Language influences the way we think, how we perceive reality, and how we behave. With respect to HIV, language can embody stigma and discrimination, which impacts access to testing, acquisition of HIV, and engagement with treatment. Language plays a role in supporting respect and empowerment of individuals, as communities shape how they are referred to and the labels they wish to use. Consideration and use of appropriate language can strengthen the global response to the HIV pandemic by diminishing stigma and discrimination and increasing support and understanding for individuals and communities living with HIV. Comments and suggestions for modifications should be sent to editorialboard@unaids.org

Feature Story

Photography exhibition aims to reduce HIV stigma and discrimination in Pakistan

07 September 2015

A photography exhibition portraying the inspirational stories of people living with HIV opened in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 7 September.

A Photo Story on People Living with HIV in Pakistan is a collection of 25 portraits of men and women living with HIV who have taken the decision to share their stories of HIV-related stigma with the public. It is the first exhibition in Pakistan to shine the spotlight on the resilience of people living with HIV. Each photo is accompanied by a short interview in which people express their challenges and concerns, but also their determination to bring about change and eliminate stigma and discrimination.

Nazir Masih, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Lights AIDS Control Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing treatment, care and support for people living with HIV, is one of the people portrayed in the exhibition. He said, “HIV is a problem of human beings and it is not an issue of any particular religion or nation. That is why hurdles and threats cannot deter me from the path of helping those in need and will not stop me, come what may, because this is what I have been made for.”

In Pakistan, it has often been difficult to disseminate key HIV information, owing to cultural and social barriers. The aim of this exhibition is to give a human face to the epidemic, with photographs that will have a lasting impact and can be shared on multiple platforms.

“We salute the courage and willingness of the men and women showcased in this exhibition to disclose their status in the hopes of transforming society,” said Steve Kraus, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, who inaugurated the exhibition. “Let us embrace our brothers and sisters living with HIV. Only when we reach zero discrimination can we end the AIDS epidemic in Pakistan.”

Stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV remains a widespread challenge in Pakistan. The country’s People Living with HIV Stigma Index, conducted in 2010, revealed high levels of stigma and exclusion from families and religious activities and discrimination in employment. One third of respondents reported being denied access to health care in the previous 12 months.

Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai, National Programme Manager, National AIDS Control Programme, said “The Government of Pakistan is committed to scaling up targeted interventions to prevent the rise in HIV prevalence among key and vulnerable populations and to fostering an organized national response to halt new HIV infections, improve the health and quality of life of people with and affected by HIV and initiate community-based HIV testing to bridge the gap between registered and estimated HIV cases.”

The exhibition was produced in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme of Pakistan, the United Nations Information Centre and UNAIDS.

Feature Story

UNAIDS wins first prize in British Medical Association Book Awards

03 September 2015

UNAIDS has been awarded first prize in the Popular Medicine category of the British Medical Association (BMA) Book Awards for its book The Bravest Boy I Know.

The prestigious awards were announced at a ceremony on 3 September at BMA House in London. An annual event, the awards aim to encourage and reward excellence in medical publishing, with prizes given out in categories and an overall BMA Medical Book of the Year award made from the category winners.

The Bravest Boy I Know is about two friends, Kendi and Kayla. Kendi is living with HIV. The story is set in Africa and is a heart-warming tale of how the two friends deal with HIV in a positive way. The book conveys the important message that by taking medicine, children living with HIV can live active and healthy lives, while also explaining that the medicines can make children feel unwell and tired.

The judges noted that the book, “Is a unique offering … and is well-presented and engaging. If used appropriately it could be an important public health tool.”

UNAIDS Director of Communications and Global Advocacy Annemarie Hou, accepting the award on behalf of UNAIDS, said, “This is a tremendous honour and recognition that children everywhere need access to high-quality health information.”

The book, which is beautifully illustrated by celebrated artist Sujean Rim, was launched in May 2014 by UNAIDS and the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation at an event attended by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Ambassador Dho Young-shim, Chairperson of the ST-EP Foundation. The book is dedicated to Mr Ban for his work in prioritizing education through the Global Education First Initiative, which aims to put every child in school, improve the quality of learning and foster global citizenship.

Speaking at the launch in 2014, Mr Ban said that, “This book, which will be delivered to schools across Africa through ST-EP’s Small Libraries project, will help everyone understand that young people can live normal and fulfilling lives with HIV.”

Ambassador Dho said at the launch in 2014, “As the UN MDGs Advocate for Education, I firmly believe in the power of education to accelerate the achievement of all UN MDGs by 2015, and particularly Goal 6—aimed at HIV. This meaningful collaboration with UNAIDS is creating synergies that will have a powerful impact on the education and the health of children.”

In addition to winning first prize in the Popular Medicine category, UNAIDS was also Highly Commended for The Gap Report in the Public Health category and for The Cities Report in the Health and Social Care category.


Update

Ronaldinho encourages young people to get tested for HIV

20 August 2015

The Brazilian football star Ronaldo de Assis Moreira has reaffirmed his commitment to the AIDS response by strongly urging young people to get tested for HIV. He is lending his support to ProTest HIV, a UNAIDS-supported initiative that encourages HIV testing and linkage to necessary health-care services.

The importance of increasing the involvement of young people in the AIDS response was discussed when Ronaldinho met the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Luiz Loures, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 18 August.

Of the almost 37 million people living with HIV today, almost half are unaware of their status.  

Update

Investing in community responses to HIV

18 August 2015

There is widespread recognition that community responses to HIV need to be scaled-up, resourced at much higher levels and integrated into national AIDS plans if UNAIDS Fast-Track targets are to be met by 2020. A new report from UNAIDS and Stop AIDS Alliance provides a summary of existing evidence that shows how community responses result in positive health outcomes and improved quality of life for individuals and communities at large.

Communities deliver shows how community responses reach people in need of prevention, treatment and care through activities such as advocacy, financing, participation in accountability mechanisms, research and the delivery of services. The report provides a categorization of the different types of community responses to HIV and includes illustrative examples of each kind of community action from around the world.

The report is currently available in English and will soon be translated into French, Russian and Spanish.

Feature Story

Postcards from China’s first AIDS RIDE

29 July 2015

Liu Jiulong is the first person in China to complete an AIDS RIDE. This fundraiser and HIV awareness raising bicycling event has been popular in other countries like the USA for many years. However, in China, fear of stigma and discrimination has kept many people living with HIV from taking part in public events.

“Cycling promotes a healthy lifestyle and the AIDS RIDE is a good way to promote correct knowledge about HIV prevention to the general public,” said Liu Jiulong.

His mission was to use the challenge to eliminate ignorance, misunderstanding, fear and discrimination against people living with HIV. His odyssey began on 4 May in Nanchang city, his home town. He rode his bike for 3 000 km, cycling through 27 cities. He completed his journey in Beijing 43 days later. Liu Jiulong hosted  30 outreach  events during his trip, reaching 16 million people online.

Speaking about his accomplishment after crossing the finish line, he said, “There were so many people involved and I enjoyed the mutual support we gave each other.”

Life was anything but great in 2007 when Liu Jiulong was diagnosed with HIV. He was working at an advertising company in Beijing. “I thought I wasn’t going to live to be 35 years old. I felt worthless and also very guilty and bad towards my family,” said Liu Jiulong. He also experienced stigma and discrimination when people stoppedspeaking to him after learningabout his status.

He felt so desperate that he even tried to commit suicide. Eventually, with the support of caring doctors, nurses and volunteer supporters at the Beijing Youan Hospital he made it through those dark days and decided to move back to his home town. He founded an organization called “Love Service Station” to support people living with HIV in Nanchang City.

Liu Jiulong started taking antiretroviral treatment for HIV in 2009 and said it has changed his life, “With life-saving treatment, I’m in a good situation. I can complete the 3 000 km AIDS RIDE.”

Liu Jiulong wants other people living with HIV to know that with effective self-management of HIV and by taking antiretroviral treatment, they can improve the quality of their life. He is proud of his recent achievement, “It’s a great feeling.”

Region/country

Documents

Postcards from China’s first AIDS RIDE

Liu Jiulong is the first person in China to complete an AIDS RIDE. This fundraiser and HIV awareness raising bicycling event has been popular in other countries like the USA for many years. However, in China, fear of stigma and discrimination has kept many people living with HIV from taking part in public events.

Update

Promoting HIV testing among young people in South Africa

20 July 2015

On Nelson Mandela International Day, 18 July, UNAIDS brought together a small group of artists for a joint visit to South Africa to raise awareness about HIV among young people.

The grandsons of Nelson Mandela, Ndaba and Kweku Mandela, joined the group, which included North American actress and singer Zendaya and Norwegian musical duo Nico & Vinz.

The group met with young people living with HIV to learn about the challenges they face on a daily basis to access HIV and other health-related services. They also visited several HIV programmes and witnessed how a community-led health programme is providing HIV services in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, near the birthplace of former President Mandela.

HIV is the number one contributor to adolescent mortality in Africa. Discrimination, poverty, inequalities and harsh laws often prevent adolescents from seeking and receiving HIV testing, health care and support. Too many adolescents do not get tested for HIV or receive counselling, especially adolescents at a higher risk of HIV infection and the most marginalized adolescents—adolescent girls, adolescent males who have sex with males, adolescents who inject drugs and sexually exploited adolescents.

The visit gave the group an insight of the importance of removing barriers to access HIV testing and the participants had the opportunity to engage with the ProTESTHIV initiative, which promotes HIV testing.

Quotes

“Like my grandfather used to say, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” We are the generation that will end the AIDS epidemic.”

Ndaba Mandela

“On this trip, I have seen first-hand the power that the youth have to take charge of their lives, get tested and make the right choices.”

Nico, musician

“Getting tested for HIV is the first step to a healthier life, whether it’s a positive or negative result.”

Vinz, musician

“Someone said to us “It’s all about loving yourself.” I hope to use my voice to get that message out.”

Zendaya, actress and singer

“I always say that the younger generations are not the leaders of the future. They are the leaders of today. They will be the ones to end the AIDS epidemic.”

Sheila Tlou, UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa

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