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We celebrate World AIDS day
on December 1.
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UNITED NATIONS WORLD AIDS DAY
Photo credit, from top to bottom: UNAIDS
Every year on 1 December, UNESCO stands together with UNAIDS, co-sponsors and other partners for World AIDS Day.
While considerable progress has been made towards ending AIDS as a public health threat, the HIV epidemic is not over and young people remain disproportionately at risk. Worldwide in 2017, there were approximately 250,000 new HIV infections and 38,000 AIDS-related deaths among adolescents. 1.8 million adolescents are living with HIV globally.
Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is essential for young people to be able to protect themselves from HIV. It also helps young people avoid unintended pregnancy and other sexually transmitted infections, encourages them to seek out health-related information and services, promotes values of tolerance, mutual respect and non-violence in relationships, and supports a safe transition into adulthood.
UNESCO’s work on education and HIV, in particular its strategic priorities of increasing access to quality comprehensive sexuality education and making education safe and inclusive, is a key part of the global AIDS response. UNESCO supports national education authorities and partners to strengthen their existing curricula and adapt content and approaches to their local context.
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
“On this World AIDS Day, UNESCO joins UNAIDS and partners to remind that knowledge protects. “Know your status!” is the theme of this 30th edition of World AIDS Day. Knowledge protects. In addition to teaching young people how to prevent HIV and access testing, sexuality education also helps them develop important life skills and positive health-seeking behaviour. For young people living with HIV, a health-promoting school environment can be lifesaving, by helping them not just access treatment but adhere to it. Knowledge is also our first defence against HIV-related stigma and discrimination.”
— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World AIDS Day
Home → What’s On → Events → International Days → December 1
International days are celebrations and calls to action. They are for everyone to participate in. This is how you can take part in an International Day in three simple steps.
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Why are International Days important? They provide unique opportunities to transmit UNESCO values to the world.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
International days also provide a unique opportunity to engage citizens on global issues, to mobilise political will and resources to address these problems, but also to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity as well as remember some of our darkest times as they guide us towards building a better world.
The United Nations International Days are for everyone, all around the globe. Because they are open, you can have an important role to play in them. NGOs, universities, schools, press and more will be putting together campaigns, events, and calls to action worldwide to provide further opportunities to engage, learn, and transmit the values and knowledge associated with each International Day. They serve as an important vehicle to connect the local to the international.
At their root, UN International Days contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter and promote awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. International days are at the heart of the United Nations Charter. They work to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.
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