Visibility

World AIDS Day 2015 – Show your Solidarity

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While there has been a significant and welcome improvement in treatment for HIV, concern remains regarding the numbers of newly diagnosed cases in Ireland. As of mid-November 2015, 411 new diagnoses of HIV have been reported by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

 

World AIDS Day is a significant annual event in Ireland that helps to raise awareness about the many issues that present themselves for people living with HIV and those at risk of contracting HIV. In 2015, organisations from all over Ireland are working together to roll out a national co-ordinated campaign running for five days from Friday 27th of November until World AIDS Day on the 1st of December. The focus of World AIDS Day 2015 is Solidarity with all people living with HIV, both those who know they are living with HIV, and those who don’t.

The key messages of HIV Visibility, HIV Stigma, HIV Support and HIV Knowledge are being promoted through a social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter asking people to show their solidarity with people who are living with HIV. The Lord Mayor’s in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway are supporting the campaign by promoting the key messages of HIV Visibility, HIV Stigma, HIV Support and HIV Knowledge. Equally, city councils and local authorities are showing their solidarity by lighting up prominent buildings in red in cities across the country. HIV organisations and sexual health services are supporting the campaign in many ways including organised events and activities that will run throughout the campaign and into December.

Support the Campaign and Show your Solidarity

Download the campaign posters and display in your organisation/workplace.
Poster 1 Visibility Poster 2 Stigma Poster 3 Support Poster 4 Knowledge

Download social media materials and post to Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #WADirl
KnowledgeVisibilityStigmaSupport

Download the Facebook profile picture and upload to your Facebook page to support World AIDS Day.
Profile Pic

Profile Pic

Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter and post a message using the hashtag #WADirl.

Photo launch of Just Saying NICDAFT

 ‘Just Saying…’ report launched by Minister Aodhán ó Ríordáin

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On 21st October, Minister Aodhán ó Ríordáin launched a report on the views of young people about drugs and alcohol.  ‘Just Saying…’ is a report compiled from a number of youth conventions held in 2013 and 2014 in Dublin’s north inner city, organised by the Prevention and Education sub-committee of the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NICDATF).  The committee is chaired by Maureen O’Sullivan, T.D. and members include representatives from HIV Ireland, Bradóg Regional Youth Service, Hands on Peer Education and BeLonG To Youth Services.

The report presents the views of 400 young students from nine local schools who took part in four Youth Conventions.  The aim of the conventions was to listen to young people’s views on drugs and alcohol, their opinions on the various drugs education and prevention experienced to date through their schools or clubs.  Round-table discussions at the conventions were facilitated by youth workers involved in the committee and from other various clubs and projects in the north inner city.

 

When officially launching the report, the Minister made particular reference to the recommendation that the voices of young people should be central to the development of drug education and prevention initiatives, and should be involved in the development of the next National Drugs Strategy (currently being developed).  The Minister gave his support for this recommendation and suggested the organisation of a conference or seminar to facilitate this.

 

When discussing future prevention approaches, young people cited the importance of presenting them with the facts about drugs and alcohol so that they could make informed choices.  Young people further highlighted the need for information on sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  HIV Ireland will continue its active involvement in the Prevention and Education sub-committee to ensure these issues raised by young people are included in future initiatives.

 

For copies of the report contact the NICDATF  www.nicdtf.ie