Candlelight memorial tomorrow • A tribute to loved ones who have lost their lives locally to HIV/Aids |19 May 2017

‘Ending Aids Together’ is the theme for the 2017 Candlelight Memorial which will take place tomorrow across the world.

Locally, the candlelight march will start at 5pm at the Grand Anse Praslin crèche ending at the district’s community centre.

The local event, coordinated by Haso (HIV Aids Support Organisation), is a symbol of solidarity to the people living with HIV/Aids.

The International Aids Candlelight Memorial, coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV, is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilisation campaigns for HIV awareness in the world. Started in 1983, the International Aids Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May and is led by a coalition of some 1,200 community organisations in 115 countries.

The International Aids Candlelight Memorial is much more than just a memorial, it also serves as a community mobilisation campaign with the aim of  raising social consciousness about HIV and Aids, to remember loved ones who have lost their lives to HIV, to show solidarity with people living with HIV, to raise awareness around HIV within society, to reduce HIV related stigma and discrimination against key populations, including men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers and young people.

With 33 million people living with HIV today including Seychelles, the International Aids Candlelight Memorial serves as an important intervention for global solidarity, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generations.

Get involved with one of the world’s oldest movements against HIV and join the historic, diverse coalition of community based groups, networks and volunteers around the world as they plan local memorials day raising awareness about