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Media Tools Now Available for Coordinators
Press Releases and media advisories are effective media tools to use when promoting the International Candlelight Memorial. Click here to read the guidelines and examples we have provided to you.
On November 5, 2002, history was made when Panama's first ever Miss Universe, Justine Pasek, returned home for her first official visit since her crowning in September. As part of her commitment to the Global Health Council and the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, Justine used this opportunity to speak directly and passionately to the people of Central America about HIV/AIDS awareness.
Among the issues addressed by Miss Universe was the extreme stigma often associated with the disease in Latin America. Home to over three million people, Panama has one of the largest HIV infection rates in the region. As a native Panamanian, Justine educated her countrymen about the need to eliminate stigma toward HIV if they are to effectively address the epidemic.
During her HIV/AIDS stigma-fighting crusade throughout Panama, Justine visited PROBISIDA, Panama City's only HIV/AIDS clinic and the local Coordinator for the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. The Global Health Council brought Justine to PROBISIDA to launch two important new services: an HIV/AIDS testing lab and an HIV/AIDS hotline.
Demonstrating her personal commitment to eliminating the stigma associated with HIV testing, Justine volunteered to take the first test administered by the newly opened lab. Speaking to reporters as she prepared for her test, Justine commented, "I want to show the people of my country that everyone needs to be tested, even beauty queens. HIV doesn't care who you are or what you do." Photos of Justine being tested were broadcast to millions of people throughout Central America.
Large and enthusiastic crowds greeted Miss Universe during her tour of Panama. Panama's president, Mireya Moscoso, accompanied Justine to many sites. Apparently, Justine's message resonated at the highest levels of Panamanian society; President Moscoso included a reference to HIV/AIDS awareness during an address introducing Justine to the diplomatic community. With the two most famous women in Panama talking about HIV/AIDS, a more open dialogue among the public is sure to follow.
"HIV/AIDS is a extremely stigmatized issue in Latin America," remarked Justine. "We cannot turn our backs to this disease. I am committed to use my voice to let people of the world know that this is an issue that must be addressed in every sector of our society. I invite you to join me in remembering those who we have lost and renewing our commitment to fighting this devastating disease."
HIV/AIDS awareness is the official issue focus of the Miss Universe Organization. Each young woman holding the Universe crown works to educate the public about HIV/AIDS during her reign. In 2001, Miss Universe became the official spokesperson for the Global Health Council's HIV/AIDS mobilization project, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Campaign. This trip to Panama, as well as previous ventures in Puerto Rico and Kenya, contributes to the Global Health Council's mission of communicating our messages to communities throughout the world.
** Miss Universe 2002 is the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Spokeswoman. Ms. Pasek works with local Memorial coordinators in Panama to speak out about HIV/AIDS related stigma in Latin America. **
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21 November 2002
Written by Linda Nguyen, Candlelight Coordinator, Global Health Council
Email Matt: lnguyen@globalhealth.org
Visit the Global Health Council Website
Visit the Miss Universe Website
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Miss Universe 2002, Justine Pasek, recently visited the
Global Health Council offices in Washington, DC to prepare
for her participation in the Council's observance of World
AIDS Day, as well as her role as the spokesperson for the
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Campaign. This
annual campaign, a program of the Global Health Council,
will be launched on December 1, World AIDS Day, by the
newly-crowned beauty queen and AIDS activist.
During Miss Pasek's recent visit to Washington, she met
with the staff of the Global Health Council for strategy
sessions on World AIDS Day, refined elements of her AIDS
platform, and visited the National Press Club.
Miss Pasek wants to make a difference in the world's
responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "It is a very
stigmatized issue," she said, "I look forward to using my voice to bring awareness and understanding to
this devastating disease."
The Miss Universe Organization and the Global Health Council entered into a "Charitable Alliance" agreement in 2001 to promote the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and other HIV/AIDS programs.
Visit the Global Health Council Website
Visit the Miss Universe Website
Related Article
Miss Universe in DC - Washington Post
Grassroots Program Lights the Way
Thousands of flames flickered during the Opening Ceremony of the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona in
remembrance of those who died from AIDS. This candlelight memorial served as a tribute to those whose lives were
shortened by the disease, but also served as a call to action for those who are still living, whether they are infected with
or affected by HIV/AIDS.
For some attendees of the Opening Ceremony this may have been their first experience with an AIDS candlelight
memorial. But there is an annual event - the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial - that occurs regularly, to ensure
that lives lost to AIDS are never forgotten.
This past May, close to one million people in more than 1,500 communities in 85 countries participated in the 19th
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, the world's largest and oldest annual grassroots HIV/AIDS event. Since
1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial has honoured the memories of those lost to AIDS, shown support
for those living with HIV and AIDS, raised awareness of HIV/AIDS, and mobilised community involvement in the fight
against HIV/AIDS.
During the past two decades, the AIDS pandemic has claimed more than 22 million lives, and more than 40 million
people now live with HIV and AIDS. As AIDS continues to ravage communities around the world, the Candlelight
Memorial, sponsored by the Global Health Council, has become a way for communities to take action by publicly
celebrating the lives of those who have been lost to AIDS, and by strengthening local and national commitments to
fighting the pandemic.
In small communities, it has helped to increase awareness, understanding, volunteerism and fundraising. In large cities,
it brings together a diverse spectrum of people who care about HIV/AIDS. In all cases, the event creates a sense of
solidarity across the globe.
What began as a local event in San Francisco close to 20 years ago has blossomed into a global movement for
HIV/AIDS. In the past year alone, ten new countries have joined the memorial - including Cambodia, Mongolia, China,
and Vietnam - and the number of participating communities throughout the world has tripled. The memorial continues to
flourish in communities throughout Indonesia, India and Africa.
Share Your Vision for a Brighter Tomorrow
The theme for the 2002 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, Share Your Vision for a Brighter Tomorrow, focused
on establishing one's personal vision in honour of those who have been touched by HIV/AIDS. "This year's theme was
an action item," said Matthew Matassa, co-ordinator of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the Global
Health Council. "It allowed people to share what they see for the future of HIV/AIDS, whether it be prevention tactics or
education. It considered individual communities' visions based on their geographic location and culture. But most of all
it allowed us to ask: What have those who have died from HIV/AIDS taught us? And what do those living with HIV/AIDS
continue to teach us?"
Throughout the years, the memorial has adopted different forms to tailor the event to the needs of a community. For
example, sometimes the event has a religious or spiritual focus and is celebrated as an interfaith service. At other
times, the memorial has presented a political theme; in 1983, the event was officially held in solidarity with more than
170 HIV-infected Haitian political refugees who were held at an internment camp at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba.
Occasionally the event is downright spectacular. Barcelona's 1997 observance included the performance of songs from
the popular musical Rent on a large, banner-draped stage. In many places, though, the event is small and personal.
Some observances have no more than 20 participants. Smaller observances can allow for more individual involvement,
including personal testimony from each participant on the effects of the epidemic on their own lives.
"Sometimes the Candlelight Memorial is the first time a community has talked about HIV/AIDS together," said
Matassa. "It's a low-pressure, non-threatening, low-cost means of HIV education."
The Universality of the Memorial
The gathering of so many communities throughout the world around HIV/AIDS has not gone unnoticed. As a result,
Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quinones was designated the official spokeswoman for the 2002 Candlelight Memorial. The
first delegate to win from her home country of Puerto Rico, Quinones travelled the world as a goodwill ambassador in the
fight against HIV/AIDS.
On 29 May 2002, a new Miss Universe was chosen, Oxana Federova of Russia. Federova will continue Quinones' work
with HIV/AIDS. In conjunction with the Global Health Council, she took her first official AIDS trip to Kenya in June
2002. While in Kenya, Federova visited Candlelight Memorial communities to learn more about HIV/AIDS issues and
community involvement so that she, in turn, can educate others about HIV/AIDS. According to UNAIDS, 2,500,000
people are currently infected with HIV/AIDS in Kenya, and 190,000 people died from AIDS in 2001.
An International Gathering on the Internet
The official Candlelight Memorial website, www.candlelightmemorial.org, has allowed the world to mobilize together. The
website can guide a person who simply wishes to attend a memorial to one located in or near their community, or it can
provide all the materials needed to organize a gala memorial in a new community.
Candlelight co-ordinators in each participating city receive a complete event coordination kit. The kit includes posters,
graphics for reproduction on letterhead and event programs, flyers for photocopying and distribution, sample press
releases and public service announcements for newspapers and radio and television stations, sample invitations to
public officials, and a step-by-step guide with suggestions for local event coordination and fundraising. The kit is
currently available in Spanish, French, Russian and English.
"We are committed to making it possible for local groups to participate in the Candlelight," said Matassa. As such,
groups that can afford it are asked to contribute a registration payment of $100 to cover expenses, but nobody has to
pay to participate. Support from organizations who can contribute to the Candlelight allows the Global Health Council to
waive this payment for groups with small or non-existent budgets.
The website will soon host discussion boards so that Candlelight coordinators may discuss strategies and ideas with
one another. In this way, communities throughout the world will continue to be inspired by one another.
"The overall goal of the Candlelight Memorial is to be a catalyst for involvement (with HIV/AIDS)," said Matassa. "It
allows persons to talk openly about HIV/AIDS in their community. From there, communities can graduate to other,
larger, issues surrounding the virus, like prevention or treatment access."
The original article was posted on the XIV International AIDS Conference - Barcelona website. AIDS 2002 Conference News produced by Health & Development Networks (HDNET) Key Correspondent Team.
Email the HDNET Key Correspondents: - correspondents@hdnet.org
Visit the HDNET Website
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The Global Health Council is proud to announce that Justine Pasek, the 2002 Miss Universe, has agreed to be the official spokeswoman for the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Miss Pasek, from Panama, will speak on behalf of the Candlelight Memorial on various issues surrounding the importance of community involvement and the need to decrease stigma related to HIV/AIDS. Throughout her reign as Miss Universe 2002, Miss Pasek will travel around the world acting as a goodwill ambassador in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Read the follow-up article from the former Miss Universe's trip to Kenya: |
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| This program is made possible by funding from: USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation and UNAIDS. |
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