Red Cross launches third phase of global anti-stigma campaign

"Exclusion and social division feed the HIV epidemic. Discrimination is not protection. It merely separates us from the power of humanity that we all need to respond effectively to the HIV epidemic," said Bernard Gardiner, manager of the International Federation's global HIV/AIDS Programme at the global launch of phase three of the Federation's Global Anti-Stigma Campaign, "The truth about AIDS. Pass it on.," in Panama City, Panama.

Social exclusion, he added, is at the root of HIV vulnerability as exclusion of people from social support networks because of their HIV status, religion, social standing, sexual orientation, race, or gender contributes to HIV vulnerability and worsens the impact of the disease.

The 'Come closer.' campaign, launched on 19 April seeks to address the continuing marginalization of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS with messages such as "Hug! Hug! You cannot get HIV by hugging" and "Touch! Touch! You cannot get HIV by touching!"

In his speech Gardiner clarified that stigmatizing others is a danger to the social cohesion needed to defeat the HIV epidemic. "When a 'stigmatiser' attempts to treat another person as somehow 'less than human,' he is attempting to discount the full humanity of 'the other' person.

However, the stigmatiser diminishes his own humanity. Stigmatisation tells us more about the perpetrator than the so-called victim" he added.

Since the launch of the Global Anti-stigma Campaign in 2002, the Federation has implemented targeted activities to reduce stigma related to HIV/AIDS and has gone through a major change process to make the organisation a better home for PLWHA, while acknowledging the tremendous contribution of volunteers and staff living with HIV/AIDS within the organisation.

'The truth about AIDS. Pass it on.' has advocated for the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS(PLWHA) to reduce stigma and National Societies have been encouraged to implement joint work plans with PLWHA to ensure the effectiveness of HIV programmes.

Today more than 120 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are actively campaigning against stigma and discrimination, as part of their work to promote humanitarian values and protect human dignity.

The launch of this third phase of the global campaign marked the beginning of an even closer collaboration with the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+ ), with materials developed in a collaboration between the Federation, the Turkish Red Crescent and Saatchi & Saatchi in Turkey.

Gardiner explained that the Federation wants this process to move beyond brave individuals taking a stand, to civil society and governments standing with PLWHA to acknowledge their interconnected humanity, and the tremendous contribution PLWHA can make if given the opportunity.

"Sometimes this means leaders taking on stigma by association, but rising above ignorance and narrow mindedness is exactly what statesmen and women do best. The Red Cross and Red Crescent has leaders who are well known humanitarians, who are proud to stand publicly with PLWHA inside and outside the Federation, and tell the truth about AIDS."

Gilberto Guevara, Head of the Federation's Regional Delegation in Panama said the Federation will support National Societies' initiatives to strengthen their own capacities to carry out actions against stigma and discrimination including community home based health care, through the exchange of best practices, knowledge sharing with the governments and the international community of resource mobilisation and sensible actions related to HIV/AIDS.

Also present at the launch was Oswaldo Rada, representative of the Latin-American Network of People living with HIV (REDLA+) who signed an Engagement Agreement with the Federation.

One of the objectives of the agreement is to establish an exchange and cooperation mechanism through information and training between the organisations. At a regional level, the Federation will work closely with the REDLA+ and at national levels stronger relationships between the National Societies and the national networks of PLWHA will be encouraged.

Gardiner stated that the Federation is currently agreeing on joint action with networks of PLWHA at regional and country levels around the world. This he noted, has involved getting close to and earning the trust of PLWHA organizations and individuals the Federation has not worked with before. The 'Come closer.' theme, he said, matches exactly this step.

In 2003 the Federation was chosen as the Collaboration Center to reduce stigma and discrimination in cooperation with GNP+. "We must take advantage of this partnership at international, regional and national levels to reach as many people as we can. We are aware of all efforts made in the last years, but we are also conscious that the hard work must continue," said Ernesto Guerro, UNAIDS representative.

Gardiner concluded that it is up to the Federation to demonstrate that it is a good home for PLWHA, and show its willingness so that PLWHA know it is safe to collaborate. "If PLWHA cannot turn to the world's largest volunteer based humanitarian organization, then who can they turn to? The Federation has a responsibility to make the first move, and so it invites PLWHA around the world to 'Come closer..'," he added.