|
|
International cricket and HIV/AIDS awareness
The international cricket community will unite for the third World AIDS Day in a row to help raise awareness of the global fight against HIV and AIDS on and around 1 December. There are over 40 million people in the world living with HIV and AIDS - 12 million of these people reside in the ICC's 10 Full Member countries. Since the ICC became the first global sporting body to enter into a partnership with UNAIDS in 2003, cricket and cricketers have been credited with playing an important role in helping to reduce the stigma and discrimination attached to the epidemic. A media release will be issued tomorrow detailing the ways in which international cricket will be supporting World AIDS Day 2005 including quotes from several high-profile prominent players. In preparation for this, the ICC has drawn together background information on World AIDS Day 2005 and the activities undertaken by the international cricket community over the last two years. A. Cricket's recent awareness-raising activitiesWhen the cricketers of India and Pakistan wore red ribbons during their historic Test series in April 2004, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sent a personal message to the players: "As cricketers, you can win the hearts of your people. As role models, you can encourage young people to protect themselves. And by wearing the red ribbon, you show that you care deeply about AIDS and about people living with HIV/AIDS, and so help to remove stigma and discrimination, a major obstacle in the fight against the epidemic." On World AIDS Day 2004 the captains of the 10 ICC Full Member countries signed up to the Captains Pledge: "HIV and AIDS is a global issue that cannot be ignored. "There are over 40 million people around the world living with HIV and AIDS. Almost a third of these live in the ten countries that play Test match cricket. "HIV and AIDS is everyone's problem and it is the responsibility of us all to do something about it. "Our commitment is to address this epidemic by raising awareness and education levels in the cricket community. "We urge young people to protect themselves from HIV and our leaders to pay more attention to the epidemic. "When we step onto the cricket field we do so as rivals but in the battle against HIV and AIDS we are united. AIDS is a common enemy and we must fight it together." The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot has highly commended the cricket world for its awareness-raising efforts: "Cricket players are leading the sports world in speaking out about AIDS boldly. The pledge taken by the cricket captains has opened a new front of leadership in the global effort to stop the AIDS epidemic." The players from both teams at the recent Johnnie Walker Super Series had awareness-raising red ribbons integrated into their Test and One-Day International playing shirts. B. About World AIDS Day 2005 World AIDS Day provides a focal point for awareness-raising activities on 1 December every year. It ties in with the annual World AIDS Campaign which in 2005 is advocating fulfillment of the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and subsequent policy commitments on AIDS under the theme "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise." The Campaign aims to hold the world community accountable to the commitments they make, while at the same time highlighting the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS as an important tool for ensuring a comprehensive response to the epidemic. The World AIDS Campaign also aims to ensure individuals are actively engaged in the response under the theme "Stop AIDS. Make the Promise." Why the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS? The agreement in 2001 by Heads of State and Representatives of Government to support the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS marked a milestone in the history of the AIDS epidemic. It sent a signal from governments that urgency would be needed in addressing the devastation of the global epidemic with leadership, honesty and action. While nations around the world have made previous commitments to respond to HIV and AIDS within their own countries, this was the first time they gathered to recognize that AIDS was a global crisis requiring global action. The Declaration set out specific commitments the international community would work to fulfill upon their return home including prevention campaigns, reducing stigma, building health infrastructures, providing necessary resources, and ensuring treatment, care and respect for people living with HIV or AIDS. In many cases, these commitments included specific deadlines, making the Declaration a powerful tool to guide and secure action, support and resources for all those fighting the epidemic, both within and outside government. These historic commitments to action in support of a comprehensive AIDS response are not solely aimed at political leaders but at us all. Everyone has a role to play in responding to HIV and AIDS. We hope you will be inspired by these commitments and will support the World AIDS Campaign to ensure that everyone 'Keeps the Promise'. As Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, said at the Special Session, "All of us must recognize AIDS as our problem. All of us must make it our priority." C. Statistics on HIV/AIDS and cricket In the time it takes to play a One-Day International match (seven hours) there will be over 2300 HIV/AIDS related deaths around the world. In the time it takes to play a Test match (five days) there will be over 41,000 HIV/AIDS related deaths around the world. Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in ICC Full Member countries (figures provided by UNAIDS)
|