The World AIDS Day theme for 2010 is ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

Two of my friends from the AIDS community shared their thoughts about this year’s celebration of World AIDS Day. Both were kind to spare a few minutes of their time to reply to an email I sent them last night.  The question was basically about their message for World AIDS Day and not something about all natural sleep aids.

From Joshua Formentera:

I talk a lot about responsibility when it comes to my politics of HIV and AIDS. And this World AIDS Day it’s important everyone thinks about the responsibility they have towards themselves, their partners and the wider community. Only together can we fight and then beat HIV and AIDS.” I have lived with HIV and AIDS for more than 20 years, I have learned my lessons, I am what I am and I am who I am but we should all take responsibility towards our community.

Joshua T. Formentera

From Igor (Alex, Luigi, dyingYOUNG ):

Almost three decades after the first wave of the HIV epidemic, we are still living in the darkness of AIDS. It’s about time that we work together for us to see the light – to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. This won’t happen if we will not recognize the rights of every individual. We need to embrace HUMAN RIGHTS in our daily lives, in everywhere we go, in whatever we do. We need to eliminate stigma and discrimination and recognize the role of key-affected populations, particularly people living with HIV, at various levels of the HIV response.

Let us Light for Rights this World AIDS Day 2010 and beyond.