By Philipp Dirnberger, General Manager, Aids Hilfe Wien, an AIDS 2010 Organizing Partner

Aids Hilfe Wien is looking forward to AIDS 2010. As a result of this forthcoming event, the media interest in HIV/AIDS in Vienna has been tremendous for the last few weeks and the issue is more present in the media. This is of major importance  because information and education are crucial prerequisites in the fight against HIV and AIDS. People who understand how HIV is transmitted are able to protect their partners and themselves from infection and know that there is no reason for discriminating against people living with HIV!

Due to the enormous media attention, which will definitely increase in July, Aids Hilfe Wien hopes for long-lasting changes in HIV awareness that will persist well beyond the conference week.

Aids Hilfe Wien

During the conference week, Vienna will be entirely committed to the Red Ribbon, the emblem of solidarity to people living with HIV. Under the conference theme, Rights Here, Right Now, the main topic will be international human rights and the need to enforce those rights as an essential element in the war against HIV.

One of the highlights during the week will be the Human Rights March on  20 July, when conference participants and local residents will join together to march through the streets of Vienna.

Information on HIV/AIDS and prevention tools, such as condoms, are freely accessible for Austrian citizens. Nevertheless, Austria is facing approximately 10 new HIV infections per week. Every infection could be prevented! In most cases, the new infections are the result of unsafe sex. Using condoms is the easiest way to be protected!

In Austria about 500 new HIV-infections are diagnosed annually. As the result of the fact that people living with HIV/AIDS are often stigmatized and excluded from society, most are forced to keep their HIV status secret. This should not be the case! In every day life, HIV is not transmitted by shaking hands, embracing, sharing food or drinking from the same glass, using the same toilet, etc. AIDS 2010 will be an important opportunity to reinforce these messages, help lessen the stigmitzation and pave the way for greater openness about HIV in Austria.