News

Today 1 December is World AIDS day and marks the 21 first anniversary of World AIDS day and the 28th anniversary of the discovery of HIV and AIDS. This year’s theme is Universal Access and Human Rights.

Over 30 million people live with HIV today and it is everyone’s duty to ensure they can have universal access to HIV treatment, prevention care and support. It is also everyone’s duty to ensure they enjoy their human rights. Indeed, stigma and discrimination towards people affected by HIV are still far too present, including in the workplace.

UNI Global Union is working on this issue through its joint campaign with UNAIDS, the UPU and the ILO on HIV prevention. It is part of UNI’s work to ensure that employees affected by HIV can work free of discrimination, stigma and fear and that employers uphold their social responsibilities.

The joint campaign which was launched in July 2009 makes use of the postal sector and network to sensitise the general public on HIV and AIDS through a series of eye-catching posters and hand-outs. The second phase of the campaign starting in 2010 will focus on postal employees. A toolkit will be prepared containing guidelines on setting up and implementing HIV and AIDS workplace polices, as well as training modules. In a third phase, Postal operators around the world will be issuing stamps to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the discovery of HIV and AIDS in 2011.

This campaign concentrates on the postal sector for many reasons. Firstly, with more than 5 million postal employees, the postal sector makes up one of the largest workforces in the world. And by sensitising 5 million workers, one can in fact outreach to potentially 20 million people. We also believe that as socially responsible entities, employers can help in the response to HIV and AIDS by creating awareness among their workforce about HIV. It is also acknowledged that healthy workforce ensures that the workers and their families can continue to depend on earnings to improve their livelihoods, education, health, etc. and will help to ensure the success of the company and the sector in general. Finally it is part of UNI’s commitment towards sustainable development.

There are currently 7 pilot countries for phase 1 of the project namely China, Estonia, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Mali, Nigeria, and Brazil. All seven have successfully launched their national campaigns between July and October 2009. Other countries have shown their interest in taking part in this campaign and we are looking for more, as well as for private postal operators to take part in the second phase of the campaign.

This campaign is a way of encouraging universal access and of upholding and fighting for the human rights of people affected by HIV and AIDS.

On this world AIDS day let’s all remember to do so.