The IAS launches Annual NewsLetter ‘Getting to the heart of Stigma’

“WE must start the difficult conversations, take action when we bear witness to a stigmatising incident, and hold ourselves to higher and more inclusive moral standards.” So says Chief Executive Officer of the International AIDS Society, Kevin Osborne. He was at the time alluding to ‘stigma’, a damaging reaction meted out to Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. The occasion was the launch of the IAS Annual News Letter on Valentine’s Day.
Cognisant that stigma drives HIV underground and of the damaging effects it could have on persons living with HIV/AIDS, the International AIDS Society has, this year, dedicated its fourth Annual Letter to addressing the underlying issue of HIV: stigma.

IAS ANNUAL LETTER 2019
The IAS Annual Letter was launched on February 14 under the theme: “Getting to the heart of stigma.” The Annual Letter will serve as the start of a stigma-focused agenda that the IAS will prioritise throughout 2019 and build on for the future,” the CEO said.
The CEO has expressed confidence that: “Together, we can all change the narratives that fuel HIV-related stigma, by starting the difficult conversations, taking action when we bear witness to a stigmatising incident and holding ourselves to higher and more inclusive standards.”

“The #HeartofStigma campaign is aimed at shifting the narratives that drive HIV-related stigma,” the CEO said, adding that it starts with the IAS Annual Letter as the core statement, in addition to featuring personal stories and experiences by people ‘in all shapes and sizes’, regardless of social or economic standing, gender or sexual preference, geographic background or skin colour.

“We can get to the #HeartofStigma by both calling out the discriminatory laws, policies and practices across a range of settings around the world that further encourage stigmatising behaviour as a social norm, as well as where stigma is being successfully challenged,” he said.

The IAS asks that persons help spread the word about HIV stigma and the IAS Annual Letter by sharing one or more of the posts below:
• “HIV and AIDS don’t discriminate; people do.”This #ValentinesDay, the International AIDS Society’s Annual Letter strikes at the #HeartofStigma to remind the world of the importance of celebrating all forms of love.

• HIV/AIDS doesn’t discriminate. People do. http://ow.ly/Fwo530nFsYG #HeartofStigma

• The fact remains that we will never “end AIDS” until we end stigma.” http://ow.ly/Fwo530nFsYG #HeartofStigma

• Let’s dedicate this #ValentinesDay to remind the world the importance of celebrating all forms of love http://ow.ly/Fwo530nFsYG #LoveIsLove #HeartofStigma

• “Stigma, stigma and stigma. We know that if we can deal with stigma we’ll have travelled very far in dealing with this epidemic.” – @ConCourtSA Justice Hon. Edwin Cameron http://ow.ly/Fwo530nFsYG #HeartofStigma