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Do you know that the 1st DEC in every year is World AIDS Day? Its main intention is to remind the world that HIV/AIDS is a threat to men, women, children on all continents around the world. This day provides an opportunity for all of us – individuals, communities and political leaders – to take action and ensure that human rights are protected and global targets for HIV and AIDS prevention, treament and care are met.

Each year the theme for World AIDS Day is chosen after extensive consultation by many global health organizations including WHO and UNAIDS. For each World AIDS Day from 2005 to 2010, the theme chosen is “Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise” with a yearly subtheme. The theme for this year, 2009, is “Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise: Universal Access and Human Rights”, which highlights the need to protect human rights and attain universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

If you want to take your awareness raising a step further, you can try finding a local event to take part in. Around the world there are hundreds of activities taking place to mark World AIDS Day, including candlelight vigils, art shows, marches and religious services.

To learn more about what is happening around the world, or to list any events that you may be holding locally on this year’s World AIDS Day, please visit the WAC’s events calendar. To look for more ways to face AIDS on World AIDS Day, you can check out at AIDS.gov.

World AIDS Day 2009′s promo video by AVERT