U.S. Embassy Commemorates World AIDS Day 2009

Mexico City | November 30, 2009

World AIDS Day Facade

Tuesday, December 1, 2009, is World AIDS Day. To mark this occasion, the U.S. Embassy has placed a banner with a red ribbon on the Embassy’s façade to acknowledge the millions of people around the world who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS -- those who are living with HIV, those we have lost, and the caregivers, families, friends, and communities that have provided support. On Tuesday, the Embassy will also hand out small red ribbons to applicants for non-immigrant visas and users of the Benjamin Franklin Library.

World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to recognize the significant strides we have made in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the last 25 years, and to recommit ourselves to joint efforts to overcome the obstacles and challenges that still stand in our way.

While HIV/AIDS treatment has saved millions of lives, stigma and discrimination against those most affected by the disease seriously damage their quality of life. The U.S. Government supports Mexico’s National Business Council on AIDS (CONAES) to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in the workplace. The Embassy congratulates Mexico on the recent approval of its proposal to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria for strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS for men and women in marginalized groups in Mexico. The U.S. Government is the largest donor to the Global Fund, having contributed almost US $3.5 billion dollars to date and pledged an additional US $1 billion dollars in fiscal year 2009.

America is proud to work with people living with HIV and other partners to boldly address the human rights challenges that drive the HIV/AIDS pandemic. And today, on Worlds AIDS Day 2009, we rededicate ourselves to furthering our achievements and reemphasize our continued commitment to Mexico’s fight.

Launched in 2003 to combat global AIDS, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment in history by any nation to combat a single disease. The American people have already provided more than $25 billion toward the fight against global AIDS. Today, an estimated 4 million individuals in low- and middle-income countries have access to antiretroviral treatment.