World AIDS Day 2008

HIV is still a major threat to public health throughout the world despite progress made over the last two decades in many countries.

On World AIDS Day 2008, the International Federation would like to remind the international community that time has not come to lower our guard on HIV - on the contary it is necessary to double our efforts. The persistence of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV shows how far we all are from effectively responding to HIV. This is why community-based volunteers from Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies throughout the world work hard to "keep the promise" of doubling Red Cross Red Crescent activities to meet 10% of the HIV-related needs in the community, focusing their action on providing prevention, treatment, care and support to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups.

	World AIDS Day: HIV still with us, not defeated yet HIV is still a major threat to public health throughout the world despite progress made over the years in some countries, warns the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2008.
	Photo gallery A selection of photos highlighting the work of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers throughout the world. The IFRC is on track to keep its commitment to double the amount of HIV activities using the Global Alliance Approach. It is clear from results over the last two years that we are “keeping the promise”.
	Kenya: A volunteer’s story The Kenya Red Cross Society forged deep bonds with people living with HIV/AIDS during the post-election violence earlier this year. One volunteer tells of the trials and triumphs, laughter and tears.
	El Salvador: raising HIV awareness among taxi drivers Javier is a 13-year-old boy who lives with his mother Gladys, who owns a coffee shop at Acomet, a taxi cooperative in San Salvador, capital of El Salvador. Acomet is involved in the “raising awareness on HIV taxi project” developed by Red Cross societies in Central America.
	Nepal: HIV – Saving the next generation Jason Smith recently travelled with the South Asia regional delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to observe HIV programmes run by the Nepal Red Cross Society.
	Natural disasters: the complex links with HIV People living with HIV are among the victims of natural disasters but they are hit even more than others since they are particularly vulnerable. Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers make sure that their essential needs are taken care of despite the difficult circumstances. Chapter 6 from the 2008 edition of the World Disaster Report focuses on this topic.

Other stories from World AIDS Day 2008

• Afghanistan: Youth peer education brings success
• Pakistan: Keeping the promise to stop AIDS
• South Asia: Tackling HIV stigma from a regional approach
• Sri Lanka: Religious leaders tackle HIV prejudices

• South Africa: Red Cross supports 'Auntie Elizabeth' and the orphans
• South Africa: Home care provided by Red Cross an essential complement to public health structures
• Cameroon: The Red Cross helps the most vulnerable 'filles libres'
• Cameroon: Hortense, the former 'fille libre' turned peer educator
• Zambia: Left to care for five great grandchildren at 82

Our partners

• Code of Good Practice for NGOs responding to HIV/AIDS
• GNP+
• UNAIDS
• World AIDS Campaign