Human rights focus for World AIDS Day 2009

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is marked throughout the world and is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there is still much to be done to tackle this global epidemic.

A focus on universal access is timely because next year will be a milestone for the Millennium Development Goals – encouraging high level review of what has and has not been accomplished in relation to achieving access for all to essential care by 2010.

The World AIDS Day theme emphasises the critical need for universal access and draws attention to the links between violations of human rights and HIV infection rates.

The message for World AIDS Day is that access for all to prevention, treatment, care and support is a fundamental human right. This offers an opportunity for organisations around the world to highlight human rights violations among vulnerable and marginalised communities.