Rally & Candlelight Vigil for World AIDS Day in downtown Oakland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Naina Khanna, 347.528.6023

nkhanna [at] womenhiv.org

WANNA END AIDS NOW? ASK A WOMAN HOW!

WORLD AIDS DAY RALLY AND CANDELIGHT VIGIL

WHEN:
Friday, December 1st, 2006 (World AIDS Day) - 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

WHO:
WORLD – Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases, is an information and support network by, for and about women with HIV/AIDS. Over the years WORLD has evolved into an internationally recognized non-profit organization and currently operates out of Oakland, California.

WHERE:
We will meet at 3:30 pm at WORLD’s downtown office (414-13th Street, Second Floor). At 4:00pm, we begin the march to City Hall. The rally and vigil will be held on the steps of City Hall, Frank Ogawa Plaza starting at 4:30pm.

WHAT:
On World AIDS Day 2006, the women of WORLD and our allies will march from WORLD’s office and gather on the steps of City Hall to share their story of living with HIV and to demand that: (1) Women and girls living with HIV must be included at all levels of decision-making around HIV policy (2) HIV education and testing must be targeted to women and girls (3) Prevention work must include advocating for the availability of female-controlled prevention strategies (e.g. microbicides) (4) We must fight to demystify and destigmatize HIV and the communities it disproportionately impacts.

BACKGROUND:
Women make up an increasing proportion of new HIV infections in Alameda County, and in the U.S., AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women between the ages of 25-44. In keeping with the theme of World AIDS Day 2006 -- Stop Aids. Keep the Promise – the women of WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases) pledge to make women more visible in the epidemic. WORLD recently launched a billboard campaign featuring five diverse HIV-positive women, which can be viewed at BART stations in the Bay Area. Some of the women featured in the poster campaign will share their stories.

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Providing education, inspiration, & advocacy for women with HIV/AIDS since 1991
414 – 13th Street, Second Floor, Oakland CA 94612 * Phone: 510/986.0340 * Fax: 510/986.0341