[Viva] Fwd: Engage, Educate, Empower! AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2016

[Margarite Sanchez]

*The 33rd AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place this Sunday, the 15th of
May.*
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GNP+ Communications <newsletter at gnpplus.net>
Date: Wed, May 11, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Subject: Engage, Educate, Empower! AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2016
To: "margaritesanchez at gmail.com" <margaritesanchez at gmail.com>


*Engage, educate, empower is the theme of the International AIDS
Candlelight Memorial 2016 which takes place this Sunday, the 15th of May,
for the 33rd time. Communities in at least thirty countries worldwide have
organized over 70 memorials. The AIDS Candlelight Memorial raises HIV
awareness and provides a much needed opportunity to commemorate the loved
ones we have lost to HIV and AIDS. *

[image: 2016_poster]
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/H5H763ReaBoYr3aW58xO0bvA/MunioH93g0CisFAK892XNN4w>“Engage,
educate, empower are three important steps towards a better HIV response.
We need to engage people, communities, governments and donors in ending the
epidemic,” says Cecilia Chung, co-chair of the Global Network of People
living with HIV (GNP+). “In engaged communities there is a greater HIV
awareness, which results in better HIV prevention, treatment and less
discrimination against people living with HIV.”

“Educate stands, in particular, for our effort to reach out to young
people. Knowledge helps young people to protect themselves and look forward
to a full, healthy life when HIV-positive.”

“We want to empower people living with HIV in all their diversity to stand
up for their right to live free of stigma and discrimination,” explains
Jaime Luna, of Y+ (the global network of young people living with HIV) and
the other co-chair of GNP+. “When people are empowered they are in a better
position to demand quality treatment, care and prevention, and the same
respect for their rights as others.“

When the AIDS Candlelight Memorial was held first in 1983, no-one could
have predicted the scale of the global HIV epidemic. With over 30 million
of lives lost and around 37 million people currently living with HIV, HIV
remains a challenging reality. For some people HIV has become a chronic
disease, but many others lack access to treatment and experience
HIV-related stigma, discrimination and other human rights violations on a
daily basis.

The Memorial emphasizes the need for people living with and affected by HIV
to join hands and work together in the response to HIV. The AIDS
Candlelight Memorial
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/SwHvD35xsq89R1gTYXt99g/MunioH93g0CisFAK892XNN4w>
is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots campaigns for HIV
awareness. It is coordinated at the global level by the Global Network of
People living with HIV (GNP+).

_____________________________________________________________

*Note for Media:*

More information, please contact Martin Stolk, Senior Communications
Officer, mstolk at gnpplus.net or +31-20-4234114

*About GNP+:*

GNP+ is the global network for and by people living with HIV. GNP+ uses
evidence based advocacy and community strengthening to improve treatment,
rights and involvement for people living with HIV. Want to know more about
our work?

Website: www.gnpplus.net | Facebook: /gnpplus | Twitter: @gnpplus

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