 Statement
for World AIDS Day 2003 from the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
We, people living with HIV/AIDS, know we have achieved so much
in awakening the world to the scale of the pandemic, and in showing we
are part of the solution rather than part of the problem. We also know
there is still so much to do. On this World AIDS Day, we affirm that the
right response remains a holistic one.
The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is "Live and let live",
highlighting the need to eliminate HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.
Indeed, what greater form of discrimination is there than to let millions
of people die by not providing access to life-saving medication and a
social and economic context that can enable them to flourish? Our struggle
against HIV/AIDS is a struggle against injustice, poverty, and the neglect
of our fellow human beings. People must have clean water, nutritious food,
safety, schools, work, freedom of expression, and the right to elect their
leaders. The struggle we are involved in is wider than the containment
of our disease. It is about building a free, nurturing, and kind world.
We, people living with HIV/AIDS, are hope for that good world. We are
committed to transcending and transforming our circumstances and the details
that make us differ from each other so as to stand united and strong.
As our colleague from Niger later added, "2005 is also tomorrow",
a tomorrow where AIDS means Act, Involve, and Defend in Solidarity.
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This
World AIDS Day 2003, the Global Fund stands committed to its goals
of being the financial mechanism to provide resources for prevention
and care programs for HIV/AIDS around the world.
