by Karolina Plickova

16 January 2008

In 2007, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as well as other stakeholders were trying to achieve that. World AIDS Day (WAD) 2007 was a special occasion as it commemorated the 20 years that had passed since the first case of HIV appeared in Ukraine. In 1987, nobody expected the epidemic to become so severe, spreading so fast and being so devastating.

A number of advocacy activities were conducted. UNAIDS Ukraine was honored to welcome Professor Lars Kallings, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on HIV and AIDS in Eastern Europe, who again showed his strong personal commitment to Ukraine, coming for the third time to observe WORLD AIDS DAY in Ukraine. UNAIDS organized several meetings in order to provide representatives of all Ukrainian key sectors including the government, the UN system, the donor community, civil society and the private sector with the possibility to meet with Prof. Kallings. These meetings generated several important issues, which were later raised during meetings with President Yuschenko.

Additionally, UNAIDS Ukraine organized the first-ever ceremony to give special recognition to selected Ukrainians who have shown an extraordinary commitment to the fight against AIDS while advancing human rights and gender equality.

Ukraine is a unique example of how individuals and seemingly “powerless” organizations have had significant influence on the national response to AIDS. The impact of these brave activists is proof of how powerful a determined and dedicated person can be. And UNAIDS decided to recognize and award those people.

The theme for this year’s observation was “Leadership: Keep the Promise”. Nine nominees were selected for their achievements in leadership in AIDS work as those who truly “kept the promise” and dedicated substantial time of their lives to help others. Among those were, for instance, Ms. Lilia Podkapaeva, former UN Good-Will Ambassador; Ms. Alla Shcherbinska, Head of Ukrainian AIDS Center; and Mr. Andrey Nechitaylov, psychologist working on a voluntary basis with HIV-positive addicts.

An exhibition took place at the event, with the well-suited title “Women through their own lenses”, which presented a unique opportunity to advocate for women’s rights, opportunities and equality in Ukraine by using their own “photo messages” and personal stories. Fifty Ukrainian women and girls who are either affected by, live with or work in the field of AIDS, took pictures illustrating their hopes and wishes as well as fears and diverse side of their lives.

The fact that photography is one of the most powerful media was proven once again.

As a “shadow” achievement for us, the UNAIDS programme in Ukraine, was that this event was prepared and organized as a joint effort with contribution from the all UN agencies which, as we hope, forecasts future development of the joint UNAIDS programme.

The visit of Prof. Lars Kallings as well as the evening event received widespread publicity in the mass media. Furthermore, there are also visible implications for an AIDS agenda on the political scene. Following World AIDS Day, events began at a very fast pace, which brought big hope and wishes for the national response to AIDS via a new presidential decree showing political commitment to AIDS.

It is still not clear what this future brings. However, we can make sure that we, ourselves, will still try to breathe this “different” air of the HIV epidemic and try to feel what a life with HIV infection is like.

And then, with the epidemic leading to death at a record pace, keep doing our best to change the situation for the sake of those people whose lives have been unalterably affected by the AIDS epidemic as well as for all to whom this epidemic is becoming a great threat – each one of us.