Human Rights Program & Women's Program

Awareness: Part of the Cure for HIV/AIDS

PSAC statement on December 1, World AIDS Day

At the end of 2001, an estimated 50,000 Canadians were living with HIV/AIDS, a 24% increase since 1996, and an estimated 15,000 Canadians don't even know they have HIV.

Worldwide, the statistics are even more staggering. About 5 million people were infected with HIV in 2001, and AIDS claimed about 3 million lives in the same year alone. The people and communities most affected by HIV/AIDS are those with limited access to fundamental social and economic rights, and 95% of all AIDS cases occur in the world’s poorest countries where women have become the prime victims and an incredible number of children are being orphaned everyday.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada is appalled at the fact that the richest of nations, including our own, continue to abdicate their responsibility to helping to find a cure for AIDS and today, on World AIDS Day, we must break the silence.

Knowing these startling statistics is a step in the right direction, but it is only one step out of many in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS and towards a finding a cure. This December 1 marks the beginning of a year-long global campaign to eliminate stigma and discrimination surrounding AIDS. The campaign is coordinated by the United Nations joint program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Stigma and discrimination are major barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention. Stigma and fear of discrimination prevents people living with HIV from acknowledging their HIV status and many with HIV are denied proper health care, housing and employment, increasing their state of vulnerability.

The PSAC encourages its members and their families to wear the red ribbon on December 1 and throughout the month to help end the silence and lift the veil of ignorance by reading, discussing and learning more about HIV/AIDS, and then taking action by putting pressure on our government to do its part.