UNAIDS launches #zerodiscrimination campaign on World AIDS Day

On the occasion of World AIDS Day 2013, the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Nobel Peace Prize Winner and UNAIDS Global Advocate for Zero Discrimination Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are launching the #zerodiscrimination campaign calling for a global transformation. The initiative will launch the new Zero Discrimination Day on 1 March 2014, adopting the butterfly as the transformative symbol for zero discrimination.

“I believe in a world where everyone can flower and blossom. We can all make a difference by reaching out and letting people lead a life of dignity irrespective of who they are,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. “I invite everyone to Open up, Reach out and end discrimination”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé announced the Zero Discrimination campaign during a World AIDS Day event in Melbourne, Australia.

“We recognize that getting to zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths will be impossible without striving towards zero discrimination,” said Mr Sidibé. “On Zero Discrimination Day, we will celebrate the rights of everyone to live a full and productive life with dignity”.

In Viet Nam, the Country Director of UNAIDS Viet Nam Dr. Kristan Schoultz and the WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr. Takeshi Kasai have jointly launched this campaign with the message “Open up, Reach out for Zero Discrimination.” Through the UN Viet Nam web page and social media outreach, the UN Country Team asks Vietnamese people to join the conversation and take action to reach zero discrimination related to HIV in Viet Nam.

Discrimination can affect people in many ways in their lives.

For the AIDS response, discrimination towards people living with HIV and key populations at higher risk of HIV is a major obstacle to expanding access to HIV services. Country surveys found that 1 in 7 people living with HIV have reportedly been denied access to healthcare and more than 1 in 10 people living with HIV have been refused employment because of their HIV status. In a 2011 study conducted by the Viet Nam Network of People Living with HIV, 1 in 10 people living with HIV reported that they have lost a job because of their HIV status.

The initial phase of the initiative will continue until December 10 – International Human Rights Day and will then build momentum in the month leading up to the new Zero Discrimination Day.