How YOU can use the theme

The theme of leadership was chosen to challenge and criticise leaders who are not keeping their promises on AIDS, celebrate leaders who are taking initiative and acting on their promises in the fight against AIDS and encourage and inspire those around the world to become leaders.

Below is a list of some general ideas that might help you to create World AIDS Day activities around the different aspects of leadership (holding leaders accountable, celebrating active leaders and inspiring others to be leaders) and universal access. As always, we encourage campaigners to link local messages to the leadership theme.

You will find examples of many of the activities mentioned below in our Campaigner' Lead section of the tool kit. Click here to explore that section further.

To see examples of some activities from World AIDS Day 2006 click here.

Rallies or Protests

You can organise a rally or a protest in a city square, in front of embassies or at leaders headquarters, demanding that global promises of universal access, or local promises be kept. Be sure to check the legal requirements and implications of rallies or protests in your area.

Letter Writing

Organise a letter-writing or email campaign to local or national leaders that includes universal access demands. Or if you have leaders that are making changes, write letters thanking them for the work they have done.

Events

When planning your World AIDS Day events, consider incorporating the theme of leadership - invite community leaders to participate or speak, use events to inspire and nominate participants to be AIDS leaders in their communities, celebrate leaders who are already taking an initiative on AIDS, have event participants sign petitions and write letters to give to leaders.

Forums

Work with organisations in your area to hold forums on leadership.

Videos, Posters, Images or other Awareness Raising Displays

Images and videos inspire many to take the lead. To see examples, click here.

Take the Lead

In whatever walk of life you are from. Wherever you live. No matter what you do for work, or study or recreation, there is something you can do in the campaign for universal access. Caring for someone affected by AIDS. Talking about AIDS prevention. Inspiring others to donate money or time to an AIDS charity - there are many things we can do to lead the way on AIDS. Your efforts, no matter how small, can make a difference.

One way you can get involved :

Demand Leadership on Universal Access

World AIDS Campaign is coordinating a project that will let people from all over the world demand greater leadership on universal access. This December politicians from every country in the world plan to meet for the International Parliamentarians Union Meeting. At this, or a related event, we plan to show world leaders the names and faces of leaders from around the world demanding greater leadership on universal access.

To participate, all you have to do is email us your name, email address, and, if you can, a small image of yourself. Also send us a few words, no more than ten, on what you have done to lead on AIDS. For example this may say « I spoke to my family about AIDS in Africa » ; « I supported someone living with AIDS » ; « I wrote a letter about universal access to my President » or « I volunteered for an AIDS cause ».

World AIDS Campaign Support Team will take all these and create an exhibition in or outside the IPU meeting, or similar event. The idea is to set an example of mass leadership which key national and international decisionmakers need to follow. When thousands of people demonstrate what they are doing as leaders against AIDS, the pressure for those funding and orchestrating national and international responses will be intense.

Not only will these demands send politicians a powerful message, but they will generate more media and public awareness for AIDS and universal access. The more awareness of what is at stake in the fight for universal access, the more likely we are to succeed.