African Union Commemorates World AIDS DAY

Addis Ababa, 1st December 2012: The African Union Commission (AUC) joins the global community in commemorating the World Aids Day today, 1st December 2012. Commemorative activities at the African Union headquarters was held for two days from 30th November to 1st December 2012, under the theme “HIV Free Generation in Africa is Possible” .
AUC commemoration featured various activities on 1st December including a bazaar by Ambassador’s spouses group, Children’s performance, AU choir, and shows by children from different schools of Ethiopia. These activities were attended by African Union staff and members of African Embassies and community in Addis Ababa.

On 30th November, AUC launched the commemoration of World AIDS Day with the decoration of AUC staff with red ribbons in the presence of the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission Mr. Erastus Mwencha. A condom and Information-Education-Communication campaign was conducted as well as the distribution of condoms and IEC materials for all. The campaign was organized by the AUC Medical Services Directorate in collaboration with partners dealing with HIV-AIDS issues,

The African Union Commission has always observed the World AIDS Day through awareness – raising and educational activities earmarked for the occasion to sensitise the population on the pandemic. This year commemorative events aim to express solidarity in awareness raising efforts in line with the International Community while drawing attention to the most vulnerable groups in the African Continent; that is young people and women. It also raises awareness among AUC/ African Embassy staff and their families in order to reduce HIV transmission to zero amongst them.

Backed by the UN “Getting to Zero” campaign theme which runs until 2015, the African Union Commission has chosen the theme “Getting to Zero: HIV- free Generation in Africa is possible”. In line with this theme, this year’s commemoration will focus on getting to zero with the youth and getting to zero at the AU workplace. This underscores the importance of “Getting to zero”, in terms of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.