UNAIDS - 27 August 2009

Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Federico Macheda, along with Manchester United Foundation Chief Executive John Shiels, took time out of the club's pre-season tour of Asia in mid-July to help UNICEF champion the rights of vulnerable children and those affected by HIV in Malaysia.

The football stars visited Positive Living, a programme operated by the community-based PT Foundation. The group spent time with 10 young people from various challenging backgrounds - including children from families affected by HIV, and children whose parents are sex workers or drug users, as well as street children and young refugees.

Despite Malaysia's progress in child health and education, many children still find themselves living on the margins of society as a result of discrimination, stigma and prejudice. These marginalized children are in the highest-risk category for HIV infection.

Stark realities for children

Joined by the players for an intimate discussion, the young people at Positive Living shared their feelings, dreams and daily experiences, revealing the stark realities of life for youths shadowed by HIV, drug abuse, violence, exploitation and displacement.

Mr. Giggs spoke with Asha (not her real name), 15, whose father died as a result of AIDS-related illness. Asha recalled the day her mother revealed her own HIV status.

"When my mother told me that she was HIV-positive, I panicked and didn't know what to do," she said. "I could not accept it."

After her father died, Asha and her mother were forced to move from their home and community due to AIDS stigma and discrimination. "After my father passed away everyone hated my mother. Everyone hurt her," she said.

Fair and equal treatment

Through their visit, the Manchester United players aim to highlight the facts about HIV, help break down the prejudice and stigma faced by marginalized children; and advocate for their right to be treated fairly.

"It's tragic to hear how marginalized children and those affected by HIV suffer as result of stigma," said Mr. Giggs. "But by joining these children here today and showing our support, we hope to send out a powerful message - that all children, no matter their background, where they live or their HIV status, should be treated equally."

UNICEF is working with the government and partners to challenge discrimination, protect children, reduce stigma and promote awareness of these issues - including HIV prevention in a country where an estimated 80,000 people are living with the virus.

Challenging stigma is vital

"Fighting against stigma is a vital step in protecting marginalized children," said Mr. Evra. "To do this, we must all learn the facts about HIV: You cannot get HIV by playing with children who are HIV-positive."

The footballers' visit represents the latest development in the ground-breaking 10-year æUnited for UNICEF' partnership between Manchester United and UNICEF and highlights the club's continuing commitment to UNICEF's 'Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS' global campaign. UNICEF is a cosponsor of UNAIDS.

Since 1999, the partnership has raised over $3.75 million, benefiting over 1.5 million children worldwide. In 2007, the club donated more than $150,000 to UNICEF Malaysia for youth HIV-prevention programmes.

"Lasting solutions for the next generation must address both protection from HIV and protection of children's rights," said UNICEF Representative to Malaysia Youssouf Oomar. "These rights are not merely the benefit of a few but the entitlement of all children, regardless of their identity, HIV status, geographical location or gender."

The 'United for UNICEF' 10th anniversary coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child this year.

Resources:

Policy and guidance:

Young people - Technical Policies of the UNAIDS Programme - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PolicyGuidance/Techpolicies/y oung_ppl_technical_policies.asp

Young people û Operational guidelines of the UNAIDS Programme - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PolicyGuidance/OperationGuide lines/young_ppl_operational_guidelines.asp

Children and orphans - Technical policies of the UNAIDS Programme - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PolicyGuidance/Techpolicies/C hild_technical_policies.asp

Children and orphans- Key guidelines of the UNAIDS Programme - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PolicyGuidance/OperationGuide lines/child_operational_guidelines.asp

Related information:

Malaysia - http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Countries/malaysia.asp

Asia - http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Regions/Asia.asp

Key populations: Young people - http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAndPractice/KeyPopulations/YoungPeople/default.asp

Key populations: Children and orphans - http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAndPractice/KeyPopulations/ChildAndOrphans/defaul t.asp

Stigma and discrimination - http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAndPractice/StigmaDiscrim/default.asp

Access to care and support - http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAndPractice/CareAndSupport/default.asp

Cosponsors:

UNICEF - http://www.unicef.org/

Partners:

Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS - http://www.uniteforchildren.org/

United for UNICEF - http://www.unicef.org.uk/corporatepartnerships/partner_detail.asp?partner=8&node id=partner8&section=4

Positive Living - http://www.ptfmalaysia.org/positive.htm

Feature stories:

Peer educators raising HIV awareness through sport in Trinidad and Tobago (03 June 2009) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2009/UN090602.html

UNICEF working to teach AIDS prevention to young people in Guinea (16 April 2009) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2009/UN090408.html

UNICEF: Communities provide a bigger 'family' for orphaned children in Rwanda (09 March 2009) - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2009/2 0090309_UNICEFClementine.asp

Third stocktaking report on children and AIDS (01 December 2008) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2008/UN081205.html

Multimedia:

UNICEF photo essay on paediatric HIV in Zambia - http://www.unicef.org/photoessays/49639.html

Publications:

Children and AIDS: Third stocktaking report, 2008 (pdf, 1.90 Mb.) - http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/20081201_3rd_stocktaking_en.pdf

Children and AIDS: Third stocktaking report, 2008, Summary (pdf, 2.71 MB.) - http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/20081201_3rd_stocktaking_summary_en.pdf
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