Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 9 May 2003
The World Red Cross Red Crescent Day event involved the International Federation, the Geneva Red Cross Youth, Groupe SIDA Geneve and Young Positive, an international group representing young people living with HIV.
Helping to spread the message were youth volunteers from 10 Central and Eastern European Red Cross Societies, who had been invited to participate in an annual workshop organised by the Geneva Youth branch of the Swiss Red Cross.
All seemed enthused by what they had learned and were eagerly putting it into practice on the streets of Geneva, handing out condoms and leaflets and bringing to life a series of stamps specially designed for the Federation's anti-stigma campaign. The stamps illustrate various activities through which you cannot catch AIDS: drinking out of the same cup, shaking hands, working in the same office, being friends, kissing.
The "You cannot get AIDS by..." campaign is a continuation of the Federation's "The Truth about AIDS, Pass it on" campaign launched on 8 May 2002.
The Federation has been encouraging national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to stage events on May 8 to highlight the anti-stigma campaign. "We are supporting the Geneva Red Cross Youth in staging this event," says Javier Hourcade, the Federation's HIV/AIDS anti-stigma campaign manager. "It's important that our ideas are not abstract, that they are translated into concrete actions."
One of the most significant aspects of the Geneva event was the lead role taken by Red Cross youth volunteers. In many countries it is they who are taking the initiative in spreading the message to their peers.
"I will certainly take this experience back with me," says Fuada Daco, 20, an Albanian Red Cross youth volunteer. "An event like this one could be done in Tirana."
"We have similar programmes," says Aleksandar, president of the Bosnia-Herzegovina youth section. "But this has given us new ideas."
If that happens, then the "Pass it on..." concept will be working - a small pebble will have been dropped in the pond, and the ripples will spread. Yet these enthusiastic volunteers have their work cut out - there is still a huge taboo surrounding HIV/AIDS in their countries. Despite it being a very real problem, there are too few positive role models.
"I have read about people with HIV/AIDS, but until I came to Geneva I had not met anyone - it has been interesting and emotional," says another Albanian volunteer, Klodiana. When we read about these people it seems so distant. We need to make their stories more real."
One of the people who has made the issue come alive for these volunteers is Ralf Jager, director of Young Positive , for whom this event constitutes a prelude to an official partnership with Red Cross youth.
"Given the established network of the Red Cross, it is important for us to work together," he said. "I have been amazed to meet so many young people involved and passionate, and willing to pass on the message - especially in Eastern Europe.
Even in Western Europe - even on the streets of Geneva - there is a need to reinforce the message. More effective drugs and a generation of people born after the disease first emerged has led to a new complacency, a misconception that HIV/AIDS is being beaten and that it is now largely a disease of the developing world.
"I can assure you that HIV/AIDS is not over," Ralf Jager says. "I am still living with HIV - I am still infectious."
The Federation's campaign against stigma and discrimination is a global one, but the key to its success is implementing it at community level.
"The global campaign gives a framework. It leaves space for local creativity and engagement. Each country and community can adapt the message to make it relevant to its own local context," said Bernard Gardiner, head of the Federation's HIV/AIDS programmes.
"It's only through engagement that we will see behaviour change, as people assess their own risk. If members of the public are passive, they won't be able to personalise the issue," he added.
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