World AIDS Day 2004, 1 December 2004

National Society activities in Europe

In Central Europe all 15 National Societies will unite in organizing candle marches, awareness campaigns to show solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS, reduce stigma and discrimination and promote HIV awareness.

Albania
Activities were organised in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health and other NGOs operating in Albania. The activities included television debates, candle marches accompanied by the distribution of educational leaflets, red ribbons, condoms and balloons. Additionally, there were lectures by professionals as well as peer educators, exhibitions of artwork; competitions and concerts. The activities were well promoted through the mass media.

Azerbaijan
A variety of activities in 83 local branches included candle marches, distribution of educational materials, red ribbons and condoms, exhibitions of artwork, theatre performances, talks by peer educators, competitions, concerts and mass media campaigns. A video “Protect myself” was produced by the Azerbaijan Red Crescent for this occasion.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Various activities were organized in co-operation with partners such as PLWHA and included presentations by professionals and peer educators. A refreshment seminar was organised for subsequently delivered 20 lectures in schools. A competition was held and a public campaign included distribution of educational materials, red ribbons and condoms.

Bulgaria
All 28 Bulgarian Red Cross branches were involved in activities which focused on HIV prevention as well as reducing HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination. The activities were promoted through mass media, free cards and promotional materials such as T-shirts and posters with the slogan: “Stigma kills… Truth about AIDS. Pass it on…”. Additionally vulnerable groups were targeted with safer sex messages through talks and workshops. Candle marches were organised and condoms, red ribbons and leaflets were distributed. Public concerts, plays, street parades, discos, parties, quiz shows, drawing and essay competitions and on-line chats on HIV/AIDS concluded the activities.

Central Europe
All 15 Central European National Societies united in organizing candle marches which were awareness campaigns to show solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS, reduce stigma and discrimination and promote HIV awareness.

Czech Republic
Activities were organised by the Czech Red Cross Youth in co-operation with “Czech AIDS Help Society” – a non-governmental organisation of people living with HIV/AIDS. Candle marches were held and peer educators addressed the public. Educational materials and condoms were distributed and red ribbons were sold for fundraising.

Hungary
A meeting for peer educators to exchange experiences and upgrade their knowledge was organized and other NGOs were invited for networking. This was linked with a national competition on HIV/AIDS and related topics for schoolchildren. Candle marches were organised in local branches and promotional materials were produced and distributed along with red ribbons.

Italy
The Italian Red Cross organized activities in two main cities – Florence and Rome. The activities included painting “The truth about AIDS: Pass it on” on two wide panels at a central Square, games for youth and young children as well as a sensitization and prevention campaign. Flyers, condoms, red ribbons and other promotional materials were distributed while counseling was provided on demand. Additionally, a Villa Maraini Foundation-Italian Red Cross van spent 7 hours in front of the Termini Station main entrance in Rome, projecting informative slides on HIV/AIDS prevention, ways of transmission and the current global situation.

Kyrgyzstan
The Bishkek city drama troupe performed a play in memory of people living with HIV/AIDS. The main heroine of the performance is in real life a 24-year old pregnant woman living with HIV who tells the story of her diagnosis, her husband’s rejection and fears about her family finding out. This play was performed as part of a fund-raising campaign by the Kyrgyzstan Red Cross and the Bishkek City AIDS Centre to help women living with HIV/AIDS.

Latvia
The Latvian Red Cross co-operated with various partners such as the Latvian AIDS Centre, “DIA+LOGS” assistance centre for people affected by HIV/AIDS to mark the day. Nation wide activities included competitions, games, school visits, public worship services, film viewings, distribution of condoms, red ribbons and HIV/AIDS informational material, a concert and candlelight marches. The Latvian Red Cross worked with the media to produce and broadcast promotional material.

Lithuania
Under the theme “The truth about AIDS. Pass it on...” candlelight marches were held in 19 different cities at the same hour and a red ribbon made from candles was lighted up in central places. In Vilnius PLWHA joined the candle march and a minute of silence was observed for those who lost their lives to AIDS-related causes. Volunteers carried posters with messages about tolerance, dispelling HIV-related myths and expressing solidarity while distributing stickers and red ribbons. Additional activities included HIV prevention presentations, short film competitions, film viewing, games and concerts. National society representatives and representatives from other organisations participated in a press conference while the events received extensive media coverage.

Macedonia
The national society collaborated with different partners to organise activities such as candle marches and produced HIV awareness materials, condoms and red ribbons to promote the campaign. Additionally there was training for peer educators, presentations, art competitions and a survey among students on their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. People affected by HIV/AIDS were also visited.

Norway
Norwegian Red Cross Youth in cooperation with PLUSS-LMA (the Norwegian organisation for PLWHA) marked the day in 25 different places around the country. Material produced for the 1 December campaign targeted the general public, but had special focus on youth and messages related to sexual behaviour and stigma. Post card and poster campaign, role playing, condom exercises, anti-stigma games, questionnaires and the distribution of information materials, condoms and red ribbons were some of the activities for the day, which received media coverage around the country.

Romania
A candlelight march was organised and on the way, red ribbons, flyers with the message "The truth about AIDS, pass it on..." and condoms were distributed. The march received wide-spread media attention, with several national TV stations, radio stations and newspapers present.

Russia
A photo competition, a cinema presentation, a quilt exhibition and a joint event with the "Russian-American Volunteers Initiative", the Republican Youth Centre and the Republican Women's committee were held. A mobile team titled "HIV/AIDS: learn more..." visited a number of higher educational establishments with a special presentation on 29 and 30 November. Other activities included the announcement of the results of a poster competition and special events based on peer-to-peer education programmes. In Moscow there was a round-table titled "Red Cross Youth and AIDS" with participation from top-level state authorities from the Ministry of Health.

Slovakia
Twenty Slovak Red Cross branches organized candlelight marches which were joined by different partners. Red ribbons, promotional materials and condoms were distributed during the marches. Postcards produced for the campaign were based on the Federation’s Global campaign “The truth about AIDS. Pass it on…” and the regional Candle march CD. Some of the branches organised art competitions, exhibitions and talks by peer educators and professionals.

Slovenia
In collaboration with the Slovenian Public Health Institute and AIDS Foundation Robert, the Slovenian Red Cross organized activities under the World AIDS Campaign theme - “Women, girls, HIV and AIDS: Have you heard me today?”. Taxi drivers distributed condoms and educational materials. Additionally, condoms and educational materials were distributed to 20 000 truck drivers. A round table discussion: “AIDS and vulnerable groups” was organised and educational materials, red ribbons and condoms were distributed to the general public. The National Society participated in the “AIDS and reproductive health” meeting organised by the Slovenian Public Health Institute.

Switzerland
The Geneva Red Cross Youth joined other AIDS Service organizations for a week-long commemoration of World AIDS Day. The activities commenced on 27 November with a fundraising activity of selling candles for HIV/AIDS Programmes in Geneva, India and parts of Africa. On 1 December, awareness campaigns were held in the streets of Geneva and interactive Workshops were organized for children and teenagers. A message of solidarity under the theme "Women and HIV" was carried on the “Geneva Red Cross" tram. In the evening a religious ceremony was held, preceded by a candlelight march. It was followed by a buffet and an exhibition of paintings and patchworks by PLWHA. The day ended with a concert and on 4 December a festive evening was held to conclude the week.

Federation Secretariat
The Federation Secretariat in Geneva joined 12 other international humanitarian organizations and a local Women’s organization to mark women’s voices, vulnerabilities and victories in the face of HIV/AIDS. The event included a reception, orations by women living with HIV, dances, vocal performances and the launch of the Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS. A reception and exhibition of work by the organizations (including the Federation’s Anti-stigma booth) concluded the event.

Turkey
The Turkish Red Crescent and the Federation Regional Delegation in Turkey organized a large scale public information campaign to mark the World AIDS Day. This included a nationwide media campaign with self protection / anti-stigma messages. The messages were published and broadcast during the first week of December in national media. The Turkish Red Crescent also mobilised its health staff in four big cities to inform the public on HIV/AIDS. There were several seminars at universities, while Turkish Red Crescent branches, community centres, health and blood centres set up information stands in the their workplaces, big shopping centres and main squares to distribute materials on HIV/AIDS and the activities of the Red Crescent. The national society and the Federation Anti-stigma Campaign materials were used by the National AIDS Commission, Ministry of Health and Directorate of Religious Affairs for their activities.

Ukraine
The Ukrainian Red Cross was the first Eastern European national society to join the Central European candle march initiative. Volunteers from the national society and other AIDS service organizations marched with candles accompanied by a band of drummers. Having to change its course due to demonstrations in the city centre, the march had great impact as all other partners had organised their events in city centre venues, and all were cancelled, which meant that all others joined over 200 Red Cross nurses and volunteers on the march.

United Kingdom
On 1 December more than 650 distinguished guests attended the tenth annual London Ball, which collected over £350,000 to support British Red Cross work, including HIV/AIDS projects. Additionally the National Society placed an article on HIV/AIDS in their internal magazine ‘Red Cross Life’ and several HIV related stories on their web and intranet sites. An email message was sent to all staff from the chief executive, reminding them of the importance of the day and a lunchtime talk was given by PLWHA at the head office.