Dear all,

The year 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, the face and response to AIDS has greatly changed. While many of these changes are positive, this anniversary offers us an opportunity to highlight how much more still needs to be done.

Leadership is the theme for World AIDS Day 2007 and 2008, promoted with the campaigning slogan, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise”. Leadership empowers everyone – individuals, organisations, governments – to lead in the response to AIDS. In 2007, people around the world were encouraged to take the lead to stop AIDS. People have offered their leadership – now it is time to deliver. Promises must be kept, and people must feel empowered to act. The slogan of World AIDS Day 2008 is LEAD – EMPOWER – DELIVER - STOP AIDS. Keep the Promise

The traditional marking of the World AIDS Day in Macedonia is planed for 1 December 2008 (Monday) through joint efforts of the UN Theme Group on AIDS (financially supported by UNAIDS, UNHCR, WHO, UNFPA and UNIFEM) in collaboration with the Y-PEER Network, City Red Cross of Skopje, TAKSIRAT Festival and NGO HERA. The slogan of this year campaign is:

Share Love. Share Knowledge.

STOP AIDS. Keep the Promise

1. Event on Macedonia Square
14:00 - 16:00

Educational Game on Red Ribbon
At the central point of the square educational game in Red Ribbon shape with dimensions 6x3 meters long will be placed. The individuals that will take part in the game should correctly answer 4-5 questions related to HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention and will be provided with gifts with the campaign slogan.

“Free Hugs”
Volunteers from the social movement “Free Hugs” will hold a boards with the message “HIV cannot be transmitted through hugging” and will offer free hugs to passengers at the square.

Jongleurs show
While doing a special show and entertain the public, jongleurs will distribute educational materials, brochures, leaflets and condoms.

16:00 – 18:00

Music happening
At the central point of the square, there will be stage where few Macedonian pop singers will perform their songs. At the same time thematic clips/videos will be broadcasted on video-beam.

During the whole event, there will be 2-3 stalls where NGO and Red Cross volunteers will distribute educational materials, brochures, leaflets and condoms to the passengers at the square.

2. Positive Concert - TAXIRAT Festival

Venue: Havana Club – Skopje (Dom na Gradeznici)

Time: start at 20.30 (free entrance)

The goal would be to use the “TAKSIRAT” festival and its public campaign to raise awareness and reduce the stigma related with HIV/AIDS among young people and broader public. For this reason, the last night of the TAXIRAT festival will be organized on 1 December 2008 on HIV/AIDS theme under the SAME slogan SHARE LOVE.SHARE KNOWLAGE - STOP AIDS.KEEP THE PROMISE.

The concert will start with official promotion of the new regional HIV/AIDS thematic song performed by DANI, the UNFPA regional role model for prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth. Afterwards, the concert will continue with the famous Macedonian pop and rock bends DNO and Foltin and will finish with a special performance by two Macedonian DJs (Mastafarizam Sound System).

During the concert, educational materials and condoms will be distributed as well. In addition, outreach HIV VCT Van will be placed near by the venue and free of charge Volunteer Confidential Counseling and Testing on HIV/AIDS will be promoted and offered to public.