Thu 3 Feb 2011 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The theme for the 2011 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Saturday 15 May will be "touching lives". Community-based organisations in some 115 countries, including New Zealand, will use the event to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS, to support those living with HIV and affected by its impact and to spur calls to action for greater awareness. The Global Health Council and is handing over hosting the event to the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). The latter group's International Coordinator and CEO Kevin Moody says the Candlelight Memorial increases HIV awareness in local communities around the world with strong participation of people living with HIV. "This enhanced awareness leads to empowerment for one's own health, respect for the human rights of people living with HIV and demand and delivery of HIV treatment, prevention, care and support. He says GNP+ is proud to enable and promote the leadership of grass roots civil society in the HIV response through the Candlelight Memorial. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial started in 1983 in the United States and is the world's largest grassroots movement against HIV/AIDS and one of the longest running public health campaigns in the world today. Combining a memorial with celebration, the event was created before World AIDS Day by a small group of people in a display of hope and courage. To learn more about the Candlelight Memorial, visit www.candlelightmemorial.org. More information on New Zealand memorial services will be available on GayNZ.com well before the events.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 3rd February 2011 - 5:33pm