- Reducing stigma and discrimination
- Ensuring universal access to prevention, treatment and care
- Increasing resources for HIV and AIDS
- Promoting greater involvement of affected communities in response to HIV/AIDS
Goals of the Memorial are to:
- Honour those affected by the AIDS pandemic
- Make more people aware of HIV and AIDS and what they can do to prevent the risk of HIV infection
- Create community dialogue about HIV/AIDS and therefore create a better-informed and safer community
- Influence leaders and policy-makers to respond to HIV/AIDS issues and to safe guard the Human Rights of those living with HIV
- Reduce stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS by changing attitudes and behaviour through education
- Understand the relationship between local and global AIDS issues – what are the issues directly impacting the Pacific?
- Inspire community members to take future action against HIV/AIDS
What you can do
Community based organisations, religious groups, AIDS awareness and education associations and Positive Peoples networks from more than a hundred countries, including those of the Pacific region, are currently planning events for May 16th.
Memorials range from small community vigils to multi-day national commemorations. In addition to remembrance, many coordinating organizations use the Candlelight Memorial as an opportunity to promote local AIDS services, encourage education and community dialogue, and advocate for the advancement of public policy.
You and your community can become part of this growing worldwide movement to stand in solidarity with those impacted by HIV/AIDS and raise awareness to create an HIV and AIDS free future for the Pacific.
Ideas for Memorial Activities in your community:
- Light candles to symbolise the memory of those lost to AIDS. Light candles in the evening and raise them to the sky in remembrance
- Organise faith-based or cultural rituals to demonstrate the significance of the memorial to the community; include prayer and the reading of religious texts
- Invite political leaders, community leaders, Church leaders, HIV/AIDS workers, health care professionals, peer educators etc to speak to your community/organisation about HIV and AIDS
- Set up information booths for the distribution of educational materials
- Organise musical or drama performances to raise awareness
- Organise community gatherings where community leaders, members of the public and People living with HIV can come together to discuss HIV/AIDS in an informative and safe environment
Please email the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation (PIAF) Candlelight Coordinators for further assistance:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Fiji
or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Cook Islands
Or go to the official International Candlelight Memorial website for a complete range of free downloadable resources (media info, posters, and logos) to create your community memorial:
http://www.candlelightmemorial.org/resources/
Together we are the solution
