On the eve of World AIDS Day 2010, observed on December 1, the United Nations Family in Guyana (Joint UNAIDS) held a symbolic lighting up of the United Nations Red Ribbon outside the offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Brickdam, Georgetown. The event, hosted jointly by the UN Resident Coordinator, Kiari Linman-Tinguiri, and UNAIDS country Coordinator, Dr Reuben F. del Prado, involved the participation of a large
following of other members of the UNAIDS family in Guyana.
Dubbed ‘Lights for Rights’ the symbolic red ribbon, attractively designed using several red bulbs and superimposed high on the front of the building , was the object of the
observances.
At the beginning of the ceremony, lights in the entire UNDP compound were turned off – a timely reminder of all those persons who lost their lives to AIDS.  Then soon after, all
lights were again turned on, brightly illuminating  the compound once more – a symbol and timely reminder of the ‘rights’ of others infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The ‘Light for Rights’ ceremony was preceded by a press conference hosted and addressed by UN’s Mr. Kiari Linman-Tinguiri and UNAIDS’ Dr. Reuben F. del Prado.
Kiari Linman-Tinguiri, who traced strides made so far in the fight against HIV/AIDS, was pleased to echo recent remarks of UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon,  that:
*   Fewer people are becoming infected with HIV;
*   Millions of people have gained access to HIV treatment
*   More parents are now able to prevent their babies from becoming infected   with HIV …
The UN Resident Representative assured that the United Nations, through its consolidated Joint UN programme, continues to support the priorities of Guyana’s response to HIV.
He pronounced too on  ‘stigma’ being  generally responsible for  compassion and recognition of human rights being rolled out at a ‘snail’s pace’,  and added: “Our UN response
must be one of respect and dignity and not one of stigma, as we support Guyana in its successful efforts to further reduce the number of HIV infections.”
And commenting on the adverse effects of punitive laws, policies and discriminatory practices against persons such as men who have sex with men (MSM),  Linman-Tinguiri conceded:
“We can make human rights and the law work and put an end to punitive laws, policies, practices, stigma and discrimination which work against he tide of success. “
And Dr del Prado, in his power point presentation on ‘The status of HIV in the Caribbean’, which outlined the UN’s support for Guyana’s HIV programme, among other things,
unveiled a novel UNAIDS approach to dealing with discrimination, transmission of infections, and AIDS-related deaths.
In a World AIDS Day challenge to nations, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr. Michel Sidibe  passionately admonished:  “So on this World AIDS Day, take action today—together we can reach Zero new infections. Zero discrimination. Zero and AIDS-related deaths