Amid the public health crises of COVID-19 and overdose deaths, plus a heightened awareness of systemic racism that plays out in healthcare and other services, Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week (December 1-5) and World AIDS Day (December 1) are undoubtedly going to look different this year. We welcome hearing what you and your communities are doing to mark HIV advocacy and remembrance. Information on how to share an event appears at the bottom of this post, and this page will be updated regularly as we hear of events.
Events, Education, Advocacy
Joint Letter to Minister Hajdu, Federal Minister of Health
“We write during challenging times, and we acknowledge COVID-19 and its impact on PHAC and the Ministry of Health – but we cannot lose sight, or ground, in addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBIs. In advance of World AIDS Day 2020, it is important to acknowledge the progress made. We have made good gains with respect to our international commitments, but much work remains to be done. This will take a concerted effort and a reaffirmation at the federal level is essential, including sufficient funding for our response.
We are concerned that the current level of federal resourcing for addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBIs is insufficient.” Read more
The Experience Dialogues December 1, 10 – 11:30 AM Pacific time. You are excited to invite you to participate in an interactive bilingual event where we will be highlighting and uniting the diverse experiences of those living with, impacted by, and working on HIV.
In alignment with the theme of World AIDS Day 2020, Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility, attendees will hear special remarks from:
• Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
• Suki Beavers, UNAIDS Director of Gender Equality, Human Rights & Community Engagement
• Myles Sexton, CANFAR Ambassador
Public Health Agency of Canada’s Resource toolkit for World AIDS Day
Every year on December 1, World AIDS Day, people worldwide come together to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and commemorate people who have died. We are pleased to share with you a new Resource toolkit for World AIDS Day 2020, which includes information and links to a variety of awareness products. We hope you find these resources useful and will be able to use them as part of your World AIDS Day activities. These resources will be released on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram from December 1 – 5. We invite you to follow us on our accounts and re-tweet, like, and share the messages within your networks.
Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week Peer-led Event – Live Panel and Screening of Healing Inner Voices: December 3, 11 AM Pacific time.
In HIV: Healing Inner Voices, the lived experiences and voices of eight diverse Indigenous people living with HIV combine storytelling and the healing power of cultural teachings. As an educational tool this peer-led documentary project has the potential to decrease experiences of HIV stigma and discrimination by connecting participants and partner organizations to community and to culture.
What do World AIDS Day and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities have in common?
Voices for World AIDS Day Campaign: Story collection up to November 13; social media campaign November 22- December 5.
Themes to Explore
If you are looking for ideas for a World AIDS Day event, here are two themes you might want to work with. (We have reached out and are waiting for an update on the theme for Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week.)
The UNAIDS theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility”:
In 2020, the world’s attention has been focused by the COVID-19 pandemic on health and how pandemics affect lives and livelihoods. COVID-19 is showing once again how health is interlinked with other critical issues, such as reducing inequality, human rights, gender equality, social protection and economic growth. With this in mind, this year the theme of World AIDS Day is ‘Global solidarity, shared responsibility’.
The World AIDS Day theme for this year is Rock the Ribbon:
There’s one simple thing you can do to show your support… #ROCKTHERIBBON. Rocking a red ribbon not only completes any outfit; it shows everyone – especially people living with HIV and their families – your support.
Whether you choose one of these themes, or create one specifically for your community, let us know so we can share the information and gather support.
Share your event
- Title of event or resource
- How people can get more information (a contact person or website)
- Time, date, weblink, and/or location (if applicable)
- Cost (if applicable)
- Audience (who the event or resource is for)