40 years on from the first reported cases of HIV-related illness and deaths, AIDS Memory UK and STOPAIDS will host a vigil in remembrance of the 36.3 million people who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
The candlelit vigil will be held at Soho Square Gardens, London W1. If you wish to attend, please gather from 6:30pm (December 1). The vigil is open to all and is hosted by HIV/AIDS campaigners.
The vigil is followed by a series of educational and remembrance events around Soho including in Comptons and the Duke of Wellington pubs (7:30pm onwards), Piccadilly Circus (from 8:15pm) and at the Admiral Duncan pub (from 9pm).
This year’s World AIDS Day theme is ‘End Inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemics.’
This year’s vigil will also see campaigners #HonouringHIVAllies. The decision by AIDS Memory UK is in recognition of the need for everyone to become an ally in the fight against HIV, in order to realise the vision of this year’s World AIDS Day. Many allies who have supported their friends, lovers, family members and colleagues living with HIV have, in doing so, fought against the prevalent and corrosive stigma that still exists against people living with HIV.
Ash Kotak, Executive Director of AIDS Memory UK – the campaign to deliver The AIDS Memorial told QX:
“HIV stigma is irrational, illogical and cruel. Everyone needs to become an HIV ally so we can end that stigma. Without stigma, we make it so that all people living with HIV can be out about their status and ensure everyone is able to access testing and treatment so we can save lives and end AIDS.
Please join us this World AIDS Day to remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS and renew our commitment to fighting HIV and ending AIDS”
AIDS Memory UK is the Campaign to establish a London and a National UK AIDS Memorial: The AIDS Memorial of Tottenham Court Road, London will offer a place to remember our dead, as well as celebrate the resilience and resistance of so many towards the advances against HIV towards survival. It also reignites our struggle to end AIDS worldwide.
STOPAIDS is a membership network of over 70 UK organisations working since 1986 encouraging, initiating and supporting strong UK leadership across Government, civil society and other relevant actors to secure an effective global response to HIV and AIDS.
What is World AIDS Day?
- Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. It is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
- Most people choose to show solidarity with those living with HIV by wearing an HIV awareness red ribbon on the day; the colour red represents solidarity, love, activism and remembrance.
- World AIDS Day highlights the need to do three things:
- Come together to remember and pay our respects to the millions of people who have died from AIDS-related illness – 36.3 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.
- Show our solidarity with those living with HIV – there are 37.7m people still living with HIV and many do not have access to the services they need and face stigma. We need to say loud and clear that we stand up for all people affected by HIV – gay men, lesbians, transgender people, heterosexual women and men, children and adolescents, babies and those who are elderly.
- Renew our commitment to fighting HIV and ending AIDS – we have made a lot of progress but still have lots to do to reach the globally agreed UN target of ending AIDS by 2030. The epidemic is far from over and progress has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
