Today is World Aids Day, aimed at raising awareness of the fight against HIV and Aids, as well as remember those we have lost to an AIDS-related illness.
Despite major advances, the HIV/Aids pandemic remains one of the world’s most significant public health challenges – with over 35m people having died of HIV or Aids-related illness since the virus was identified in 1984.
The condition particularly impacts low and middle income countries, although 105,200 people in Britain live with HIV.
But just when did World Aids Day start – and what’s the significance of wearing red ribbons to mark the day?
When did World Aids Day start?
The first ever World Aids Day was in 1988.
The idea was conceived by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, who were both public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva,
December 1 1988 was chosen as the best day to launch it as Bunn, a former TV journalist from San Francisco, believed it would increase the chances of it getting media coverage – given it fell between that year’s presidential elections in November, and Christmas a few weeks later.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids took over planning of the event in 1996 – while the World Aids Campaign became independent in 2004.
This year the campaign is inviting people to #rocktheribbon, and get involved either by hosting a fundraising event, as well as sharing images of themselves wearing a red ribbon to social media.
You can find out more information on how to get involved here.
Why do we wear red ribbons for Aids awareness?
The red ribbon first became a symbol of Aids awareness in 1991.
It was designed by artists from a group called Visual Aids, which was formed in 1988 as a response to the effects of the pandemic on arts professionals.
The ribbon design was inspired by the yellow ribbons worn to honour American soldiers who had been serving in the Gulf War – and was chosen to show solidarity and compassion for those who were living with HIV as well as their caregivers.
The colour red was chosen, according to those behind the project, because of its ‘connection to blood and the idea of passion — not only anger, but love, like a valentine’.
The first actor to be seen wearing a red ribbon at an event was Jeremy Irons, who wore the symbol on his lapel at that year’s Tony Awards.
More than 100,000 red ribbons were also distributed at the Freddie Mercury Aids Awareness Tribute concert, which was held at Wembley Stadium in 1992.
To this day it remains a powerful symbol of solidarity with those living with HIV.
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