World AIDS DAY 2009 Focuses on Human Rights

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This year’s theme for World AIDS day is 'Universal Access and Human Rights.' Why focus on human rights? Human rights violations fuel the spread of HIV, especially among low-income and marginalized people. By protecting and promoting individual human rights, new infections can be significantly reduced and people living with HIV/AIDS can live healthy lives free from stigma and discrimination.

“HIV/AIDS is spreading exponentially among historically marginalized groups often lacking human rights protections,” says Tracy L. Welsh, Executive Director at HIV Law Project. “Unfortunately, despite great medical progress, we are still grappling with this reality. Human rights – the right to health, the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the right to equal protection under the law – are essential to ending the AIDS epidemic.”

HIV Law Project advocates for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, including women and their families, immigrants, people of color, members of the LGBT community and the homeless. HIV Law Project provides legal advice and representation to clients in a range of matters, including discriminatory treatment, HIV-related confidentiality issues, disability issues, housing and eviction prevention, denial of financial and medical benefits, immigration law, employment law and family law matters.

Our objective is to meet the immediate legal needs of individual clients, eliminate injustices and barriers to services and benefits, and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Until there is a cure, HIV Law Project is committed to working towards the promotion of human rights of women, men and children living with HIV/AIDS.

On this World AIDS Day, let us work urgently to remove punitive laws and practices, put an end to stigma and discrimination, and ensure universal access to HIV care and treatment for all people living with HIV/AIDS.

What Can You Do?

Wear a red ribbon and raise awareness
The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

Download World AIDS Day Materials
Join millions of others in the fight against HIV/AIDS by taking the lead in your community and sharing important HIV/AIDS information.

English	High	posters_english.pdf 92.52 MB
	Low	posters_english-web.pdf 3.24 MB
French	High	posters_french.pdf 92.51 MB
	Low	posters_french-web.pdf 3.23 MB
Spanish	High	posters_spanish.pdf 92.57 MB
	Low	posters_spanish-web.pdf 3.24 MB
Portuguese	High	posters_portuguese.pdf 92.52 MB
	Low	posters_portuguese-web.pdf 3.24 MB

Contribute to the fight for the rights of low-income people living with HIV/AIDS
Your donation can literally save lives and, at a minimum, it will help secure the most basic rights and give a measure of hope and dignity to some of the most vulnerable people living with HIV/AIDS in New York City.