AEGiS-14IAC: Regional anti-discrimination and anti-stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS. Creating positive attitude towards PLWHA by organizing national and regional competitions in visual arts for community members. Four years of Red Cross/Red Crescent experience in Asia-Pacific.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Regional anti-discrimination and anti-stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS. Creating positive attitude towards PLWHA by organizing national and regional competitions in visual arts for community members. Four years of Red Cross/Red Crescent experience in Asia-Pacific.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. ThOrE1459)

Seebacher S
International Federation of Red Cross &Red Crescent Societies, Bangkok, Thailand

ISSUES: HIV/AIDS related stigmatization and discrimination are key issues in many countries of the Asia-Pacific region, causing an inefficient and/or inadequate response to the epidemic. To address the issue, the East and Southeast Asia Regional Health Unit, Bangkok, of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies conducted two region-wide campaigns among Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies (RC/RC) in the region.

DESCRIPTION: The paper describes the objectives, main strategies and main activities of the two regional competitions, which involved RC/RC societies in 25 countries in Asia-Pacific. Each of these countries conducted national competitions as well. The paper analyses the main advantages and challenges in utilizing visual art competitions for anti-discrimination work and reports on the results of the two competitions. LESSONS LEARNT: Non-HIV/AIDS specialized mass organization like the Red Cross/Red Crescent can play an important role in the work against HIV/AIDS-related discrimination. National/regional competitions in visual arts are appropriate tools for these organizations for advocacy work on community level, and to initiate discussions on HIV/AIDS-related stigmatization.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Competitions in visual art are an excellent tool for mass organizations to start discussions on HIV/AIDS-related discrimination and should be more widely used within mass organizations. They should be more often considered in other organizational settings (e.g. schools, youth organizations).

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Red Cross, HIV Seropositivity, Federal Government, Asia, Asia, Southeastern

020707
ThOrE1459