The World AIDS Day, celebrated every year on December 1, was established in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and then supported by the United Nations through the UNAIDS program. It is the first international day dedicated to a global health issue.
The aim of the initiative is to raise public awareness about the spread of HIV, promote prevention, combat stigma towards HIV-positive people, and commemorate the victims of AIDS.
Although scientific progress since the 1990s has transformed HIV into a chronic condition that can be managed through effective therapies, AIDS remains a global health challenge. According to the annual UNAIDS reports (UNAIDS Global AIDS Update), millions of people still live with HIV, and significant inequalities in access to prevention and treatment persist , especially in low-income countries.
The symbol of the day is the Red Ribbon, created by the artists of the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in New York in 1991to represent solidarity with people affected by HIV and a commitment to fighting discrimination.
The theme for World AIDS Day 2025 is: Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response to demand continued political attention, international cooperation, and human rights-centered approaches with the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
It is therefore essential to promote information and prevention awareness initiatives every year. For this occasion, many events are organized around the world to show solidarity with people living with HIV and to raise awareness of international cooperation.
References
World Health Organization (WHO). 1 December is World AIDS Day
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). World AIDS Day
Ministero della Salute. Le nuove diagnosi di HIV e i casi di Aids in Italia nel 2022, i dati dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità
UNESCO. World AIDS Day
