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CONCACAF and UNAIDS team up to “Protect the Goal”

The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and UNAIDS signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 19 April in Panama City, Panama during the XXVIII CONCACAF Ordinary Congress agreeing to work together and engage football in the AIDS response, particularly among young people.

Update

Asian football community unites to Protect the Goal

15 May 2014

Five countries across Asia have embraced the Protect the Goal campaign. An innovative partnership between UNAIDS, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is promoting a multicountry football-based HIV prevention programme in the region.

Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand have all committed to carrying out activities with the aim of helping to address HIV transmission among young people.

Myanmar kicked off its campaign in April with a football match at the national stadium featuring national stars Kyaw Ko Ko and Than Than Htwe from the Myanmar men’s and women’s national teams. Supported by the Myanmar National League and the Myanmar Football Federation, the match was played in front of thousands of fans. Through additional activities focusing on young people in schools, football clubs and other venues, the campaign will promote the importance of voluntary HIV testing and the elimination of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV.

The UNAIDS–AFC–ADB initiative will be implemented by the Myanmar National League and Football United, a flagship programme of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Cambodia has also initiated activities within the campaign. In March 2014, stars of the Phnom Penh Crown Football Club came out to support the Protect the Goal campaign and entertain fans in an event supported by the SALT Academy, the Football Federation of Cambodia and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines are all set to roll out key activities in the near future, with Malaysia officially launching its campaign on 16 May.

The UNAIDS–AFC–ADB initiative is part of the Protect the Goal campaign efforts to roll out activities and messages on HIV prevention in the lead up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where there will be an event profiling the global campaign in Salvador, Bahia, on 9 June 2014.

Quotes

"Football is more than a sport, its magic power changes people’s lives and is one of the best vehicles to bring HIV prevention messages to people in Myanmar."

Dr Tun Aung Shwe, Programme Director of Football United, Myanmar

"There is an urgent need to scale-up HIV prevention and treatment services. Despite the decline in HIV prevalence since 2007, there are still nearly 200 000 people living with HIV in the country, with around 7000 new HIV infections annually."

Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Myanmar Country Director

"This campaign builds upon the commitments such as the Millennium Development Goals and the 10 targets endorsed at the United Nations 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, as well as the vision of getting to zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths."

Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam

Feature Story

Cricket heroes Think Wise about HIV

04 April 2014

Cricket players from around the world are once again showing their support to young people living with HIV as part of the global Think Wise partnership on HIV.

Throughout the International Cricket Council (ICC) 2014 World Twenty20 (WT20) tournament—which runs in Bangladesh until 6 April—cricketing stars from a variety of international teams are taking part in coaching sessions and site visits. They are meeting with young people living with and affected by HIV, raising awareness of the importance of accessing HIV information and services.

The Think Wise initiative is a long-running partnership between ICC, UNICEF and UNAIDS that uses the power of cricket to reach out to large numbers of people on HIV issues. The partnership, which emphasizes messages on HIV prevention and the need for the elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination, has been profiled throughout the 2014 WT20. Players and match officials have worn red ribbons in solidarity with people living with HIV and Think Wise messages are profiled in the stadiums.

As part of the Think Wise activities carried out in Bangladesh, players from the Australia, Bangladesh, West Indies and South Africa teams held special cricket coaching sessions and events for children and young people. As well as practical cricket instruction from the players, the young participants spent additional time with them discussing HIV and life skills issues. Young participant Pranto Sarkar, aged 11, underlined his excitement at having time with the cricketing stars to play with and learn from them. “I just can’t believe that I have played with them, for me it’s a dream come true,” he said.

A special site visit was arranged for members of the Bangladesh women’s international team to the Ashar Alo Society, an organization of people living with HIV. Players met children living with and affected by HIV, who shared their stories about the challenges they face.

Stressing the importance of partnership with the Bangladesh National AIDS Programme, the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the civil society partners that helped to facilitate events, trainings and site visits, the Chief of HIV at UNICEF Bangladesh, Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said, “The events in Bangladesh are a demonstration of the effective power of sport in reaching adolescents with HIV prevention information. The uniqueness of the training lies in the integration of HIV messages into cricket training drills, as well as the broad partnership between UNICEF, UNAIDS and ICC, and the national partners.”

Think Wise has inspired many leading cricketers to join efforts to promote HIV prevention and reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination. For the 2014 WT20, Bangladesh international all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan championed Think Wise—speaking about HIV prevention and stigma at a number of public events, starring in a Think Wise public service announcement that was shown in cricket grounds throughout the tournament and taking part in the in-tournament Think Wise activities with his colleagues.

“I feel privileged to be a part of the Think Wise campaign. As a sportsperson I know how far-reaching an impact we can make in addressing key issues around HIV, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh,” said Mr Al Hasan.

Commenting on the importance of the involvement of sports stars in the profiling and dissemination of key HIV and health messages, UNAIDS Country Director for Bangladesh Leo Kenny said, "We are thankful to the WT20 partnership with ICC and UNICEF and its ambassadors like Shakib Al Hasan for using cricket as a vehicle for making HIV everybody's business.”

Press Release

UNAIDS Protect the Goal campaign tour kicks-off in South Africa

GENEVA/JOHANNESBURG, 5 March 2014—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in cooperation with the Tobeka Madiba Zuma Foundation (TMZF) and the South African Football Association Development Agency (SDA),  have announced the kick-off of the Protect the Goal world tour. Protect the Goal, which was first launched at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is a campaign to raise awareness around HIV prevention and encourage young people to get actively involved in both the national and global response to HIV.

“I'm honored to join forces with SDA and UNAIDS in the AIDS response," said Madame Tobeka Madiba Zuma, whose foundation is a co-sponsor of the Protect the Goal campaign. "I want to help reach as many young people around Africa as I can. While we need to begin with HIV awareness, we also need to deliver HIV testing and treatment to many young people who need our help."

The official world tour kick-off event was held at the Soccer City Stadium, the largest stadium in Africa, during the South Africa-Brazil international friendly game. The world tour will continue its journey through the five African countries—Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria—whose national teams have qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The event also provided an opportunity to announce Kweku Mandela and Ndaba Mandela as global spokespersons for Protect the Goal. The objectives of the campaign are to use the popularity and convening power of sport to unite the world for the goal of an AIDS-free generation. The campaign also raises awareness and support for UNAIDS’ vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

“We are proud to be working with our South African partners in a rapidly evolving environment for mobilizing the global football community against AIDS,” said Dr. Djibril Diallo, Senior Adviser to the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

The campaign has garnered support from around the world. UNAIDS has signed cooperation agreements with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), South American Football Association (CONMEBOL), and Asia Football Confederation (AFC).

In Africa, UNAIDS and partners, including youth leaders, have disseminated HIV prevention messages on large electronic screens to football fans in stadiums and fan zones during games, including the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Africa’s most prestigious football tournament.

In Asia, UNAIDS, in cooperation with the Asian Football Confederation and the Asian Development Bank, are engaged in a partnership to enhance awareness of HIV, improve access to HIV prevention and treatment, and work to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination in five pilot countries, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.

CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, has also promoted the campaign in the framework of major sporting events. During the Gold Cup soccer tournament the captains of the national football teams of the United States and Panama pledged to raise awareness of HIV in the football community.

Globally, an estimated 5.4 million adolescents and young people are living with HIV, and 1.8 million are eligible for HIV treatment. Millions of young people living with HIV do not know they living with the virus, and every day, approximately 2100 adolescents and young people become newly infected, which accounts for 36% of all new HIV infections globally.

As part of the Protect the Goal Campaign, UNAIDS, TMZF, SDA and Grassroot Soccer, a South African-based, non-profit organization that uses football to educate young people about HIV, will stage a promotional event at the Alexandra Football for Hope Centre on 6 March. The centre provides young people with a safe space to learn about HIV prevention. As part of the event branded footballs of the Protect the Goal campaign will be distributed to underprivileged communities. 


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Update

Global stars unite at UN for Sports for Development Summit

05 February 2014

Global sports stars joined diplomats and international officials at the United Nations in New York to highlight how sport can empower youth and advance global health and development.

The Jack Brewer Foundation, in partnership with UNAIDS, brought together athletes from the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Olympics and more than 20 players from the National Football League (NFL) who joined the summit on the eve of the LXVIII Super Bowl final.

Led by Jack Brewer, founder of the Jack Brewer Foundation and Sidney Rice, a wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks, NFL stars and agents described how they are ‘giving back to their communities’ by using the power of football to engage young people—in the United States and in developing countries such as Haiti and Malawi—on health promotion and development.

The spokespersons for the UNAIDS Protect the goal campaign, Ndaba and Kweku Mandela, called for engaging youth around the world to reach an AIDS-free generation and continue the legacy of their grandfather, Nelson Mandela, in the AIDS response. The Protect the goal campaign aims to raise awareness of HIV and mobilize young people to commit to HIV prevention in conjunction with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Quotes

"Sports have opened so many doors. I've been to Asia, South America, and many different countries that I have never dreamed of growing up. We want to find the best way possible to protect the children who are growing up playing at the early ages."

Sidney Rice, Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver and Super Bowl champion

"Sports stars are more than role models. You are transforming the lives of underprivileged youth around our great nation and the world."

Jack Brewer, Founder/Executive Director, Jack Brewer Foundation

"My grandfather Nelson Mandela believed that sport has the power to inspire and speak in a language that youth understand. This is a great opportunity to be involved in UNAIDS Protect the goal campaign."

Ndaba Mandela, Spokesperson for the UNAIDS Protect the goal campaign

"Sports are a great equalizer of humanity—uniting rich and poor, young and old. And sports stars have the unique ability to inspire people who might not otherwise be reached."

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS

Feature Story

Asian Football Confederation and UNAIDS team-up to raise awareness of HIV

26 November 2013

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and UNAIDS are teaming up with young people for the AIDS response. A new Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 25 November. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the AFC’s 2013 Annual Awards by AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Senior Adviser to the UNAIDS Executive Director Djibril Diallo.

Through this cooperation agreement, UNAIDS and the AFC will carry out joint activities in selected competitions organized by the governing body of Asian football in support of the UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” campaign.The new initiative will enhance awareness of HIV, improve access to HIV prevention and treatment, and work to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination during football games and associated events ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Quotes

"On the eve of World AIDS Day, we are keen to join forces with UNAIDS to reach out to millions of young people in Asia with high-impact HIV protection messages."

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa

"Through the sport of football, we can reach millions of people with a simple message demonstrating the importance of HIV protection and the value added of team work in the global AIDS response"

Senior Adviser to the UNAIDS Executive Director, Djibril Diallo

Feature Story

UNAIDS announces President of CONCACAF as first recipient of the “Protect the Goal” Award for the Diaspora

20 October 2013

The President of the North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Jeffrey Webb, will be the recipient of the 2013 UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” Special Award for the Diaspora. The announcement was made during the opening of the 2013 CONCACAF Sports Summit taking place in the Cayman Island.

The “Protect the Goal” Award ceremony will take place on 15 January 2014 in Dakar, Senegal during the fourth Pan-African Youth Leadership Summit. Mr Webb will be honored for his exceptional work in using sport to advocate for social development.

The “Protect the Goal” campaign aims to raise awareness of HIV and mobilize young people to commit to HIV prevention. The special award highlights the value of football as a tool for social change. It emphasizes the importance of social responsibility and features individuals and organizations that play an important role in promoting social good and advocacy for HIV awareness and prevention through sport.

Quotes

CONCACAF is committed to working with the popularity of football to effect positive change in society. Advocacy for HIV prevention efforts in the community both in our region and the world is a vital part of that mission. We are proud that our commitment in this area has been recognized.

President of the North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Jeffrey Webb

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Feature Story

UNAIDS and Municipality of Salvador in the State of Bahia sign an agreement to promote HIV prevention campaign

01 August 2013

The Municipality of Salvador in the State of Bahia today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in which both organizations agreed to work jointly to raise awareness of HIV and mobilize the worlds of sport and culture to promote UNAIDS Protect the Goal campaign.

The main objective of the MoU is to establish a technical development cooperation framework in support of UNAIDS vision of “Getting to Zero” in the State of Bahia and carry out advocacy activities in support of UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” campaign, a brand new initiative that highlights the power of protection and fosters HIV prevention and treatment particularly among young people in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2 300 young people are infected with HIV each day. Many young people living with HIV, who are eligible for treatment lack access or do not know their HIV status. In Latin America, the situation among youth is of particular concern given that less than 30 per cent of those aged 15-24 years correctly identify how to prevent sexual transmission of HIV, and condom use in this age group remains low, while only 30 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 report using condoms during last sexual activity.

In Brazil, HIV and AIDS estimates for 2011 were as follows: New infections (all ages): 18,000 [11,000 - 26,000]; Number of people living with HIV: 490,000 [430,000 - 570,000]; Percentage of people living with HIV (aged 15 - 24); Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate: 0.30% [0.30% - 0.40%]; Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV: 470,000 [410,000 - 550,000]; Women aged 15 and up living with HIV: 200,000 [170,000 - 230,000]; Deaths due to AIDS: 15,000 [12,000 - 20,000]; and Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17: 78,000 [48,000 - 110,000].

Quotes

We applaud the signing of this cooperation agreement that aims to strengthen local capacities and harmonize programmes with other UN agencies.

Antonio Carlos Magalhães Neto, Mayor of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

We are appreciative of the efforts of the Municipality of Bahia to leverage the convening power of sport and culture to support the Protect the Goal campaign. We look forward to joint efforts with local officials for the successful outcome of the promotion of the campaign.

Dr Djibril Diallo, Senior Adviser to the Executive Director, UNAIDS

The signing of the MoU here today emphasizes the commitment of Brazil and society at large to get to zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Dr César Antonio Núñez, Director, Regional Support Team for Latin America, UNAIDS

Feature Story

UNAIDS and the South American Football Confederation sign memorandum of understanding to advance HIV prevention

01 August 2013

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to combine efforts to promote UNAIDS' Protect the Goal campaign and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, particularly among the youth. The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the special session of South America's soccer governing body in the presence of CONMEBOL President Eugenio Figueredo and Dr Djibril Diallo, on behalf of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.

The main objectives of the MoU are to carry out joint advocacy and communication activities in competitions organized by CONMEBOL —one of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) six continental confederations— in support of the "Protect the Goal" campaign, a brand new initiative within the framework of UNAIDS' sport for global advocacy that was launched at the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2300 young people are infected with HIV each day.

Quotes

We are pleased to work alongside UNAIDS to improve HIV education and facilitate access to HIV prevention, care, treatment and counselling services. Through this innovative campaign we plan to reach a broad spectrum of audiences in our region, particularly young people.

Eugenio Figueredo, CONMEBOL President

The campaign we are launching today with CONMEBOL aims at reaching zero new HIV infections and ensure that no baby is born with HIV. We will work closely together in the lead-up to the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Dr Djibril Diallo, UNAIDS Senior Adviser to the Executive Director

Feature Story

HIV prevention campaign: going for gold

31 July 2013

The 2013 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup soccer tournament is promoting the HIV prevention campaign “Protect the Goal” of UNAIDS. On 28 July during the final game of the tournament in Chicago, IL, USA the captains of the national football teams from the United States and Panama pledged to raise awareness of HIV in the football community.

The “Protect the Goal” banner was displayed prominently on the pitch prior to the game, in front of about 58 000 fans. Damarcus Beasley, the captain of the U.S. team and Roman Torres, the captain of the Panamanian team, read a statement calling on players, football fans and young people to support the campaign.

CONCACAF has also promoted the “Protect the Goal” campaign during games taking place earlier this month in Los Angeles, CA, Harrison, NJ and Portland, OR.  In April 2013, UNAIDS and CONCACAF signed an agreement in which both organizations agreed to team up to raise awareness about HIV, particularly among the youth.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2300 young people are infected with HIV each day.

Quotes

We are extremely happy to continue to support UNAIDS in its efforts to roll out the Protect the Goal campaign and the presidents of the national football teams have embraced the campaign message and are speaking out on HIV prevention in their countries.

Dr Jeffrey Webb, President, CONCACAF

We are honoured to have Dr Webb as a strong advocate for UNAIDS vision of Getting to Zero and leadership from CONCACAF will be key as we gear up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Dr. Djibril Diallo, Senior Adviser to the Executive Director of UNAIDS

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