Young sports leaders from 15 countries in the Asia and Pacific region have learned about HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health.

Some 30 volunteers participating in the Youth Leadership Programme of the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), a programme designed to bring change in the volunteers’ homelands, attended a workshop in which they discussed how to talk about HIV with young people, explored ways to overcome the challenges faced by youth and debated the role of grass-roots sports activities in the HIV response.

As part of the workshop, held in the Republic of Korea, the youth leaders also designed and created innovative advocacy campaigns on HIV prevention and testing and on promoting zero discrimination, which they promised to implement in their home countries.

The workshop was led by UNAIDS youth officers and was organized by the Youth Leadership Programme of UNOSDP in partnership with Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee and the Youth Sport Trust. 

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Ivorian football player Gervinho, a UNAIDS Ambassador for the Protect the Goal campaign, took the opportunity during a private stay in Gabon to learn about the AIDS epidemic in the country.

UNAIDS Officer in Charge Rodrigue Nze Eyo’o briefed Gervinho on the national epidemic, challenges and successes and the work and role of UNAIDS in the country. Awareness, prevention and testing campaigns are key to reaching youth and the most vulnerable populations. Gervinho’s generous contributions and engagement play a crucial role in reaching a large audience with important HIV prevention messages.

During his fact-finding mission, Gervinho also showed his ball skills on the pitch during an HIV awareness-raising football game organized by the nongovernmental organization Rainbow with the support of the UNAIDS Country Office in Gabon. At the game, Gervinho had the opportunity to speak to young vulnerable people, orphans, out-of-school children and young people living with HIV about the challenges they face in their daily lives.

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At a ceremony in Abidjan, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé has honoured the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, for her humanitarian work and her commitment to improving access to paediatric treatment for children living with HIV. 

“Ms. Ouattara’s personal involvement is the clearest sign of her commitment to the most disadvantaged and of her interest in the health of mothers and their children, not only in Côte d’Ivoire but in the whole of Africa,” said Mr Sidibé.

Ms Ouattara is to become a Special Advocate for UNAIDS, helping to raise awareness for programmes aimed at preventing new HIV infections among children and advocating for women and children living with HIV to access antiretroviral therapy.

“This distinction will be a catalyst for my commitment to the elimination of AIDS. From now on, every action to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Côte d’Ivoire, in Africa and in the world will find a favourable echo in me. I am fully engaged in this fight and I will remain committed until we reach an AIDS-free generation,” said Ms Ouattara.

Ms Ouattara has been involved in humanitarian issues for many years. In 1998, she created the Children of Africa Foundation, which has supported several projects in Côte d’Ivoire, including the construction of a school and a centre for unaccompanied children as well as the promotion of child immunization campaigns.

Global musical artist Rihanna joined UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and leaders of the MAC AIDS Fund at the Hollywood opening of a new documentary film focused on how the AIDS epidemic is affecting young people around the world.

The film, It’s Not Over, profiles the lives of three young people from India, South Africa and the United States of America. Directed by award-winning director Andrew Jenks in partnership with the MAC AIDS Fund, the film explores how young people are responding to the epidemic through activism, partnerships and social networking.

“Our global quest to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat aims to ensure that young people can come of age in a world that is safer, healthier and more just,” said Mr Sidibé. “This film shows how young people are using emerging communications and social networking technologies to raise awareness about the epidemic and advocate for continued attention to HIV.”

The partnership of the MAC AIDS Fund and UNAIDS has a particular focus on young people. Together, the MAC AIDS Fund and UNAIDS are working to encourage young people to learn their HIV status, leveraging social networking, film and other tools.

In 2014, a grant from the MAC AIDS Fund supported UNAIDS’ efforts to deliver HIV treatment and care for adolescents and young people worldwide.

The Fund is fully supported from the sale of Viva Glam Lipstick and Lipglass, with Rihanna lending her celebrity to spur purchase and awareness.