World AIDS Day 2014

World AIDS Day was created by the World Health Organization to honor those affected by HIV and AIDS. Celebrated annually on December 1st, conferences, lectures and events are hosted to remember its victims and to advocate for awareness and research in order to eradicate the disease.

On World AIDS day in 1992, Arthur Ashe spoke in front of the United Nations General Assembly for the occasion. That year’s theme was “AIDS: Community Commitment” selected by the WHO, which focused the dialogue on the role of communities in controlling the epidemic. Ashe addressed this by affirming the need to support AIDS awareness and funding for research. He poignantly stated, “We want to be able to look back and say to all concerned that we did what we had to do, when we had to do it, and with all the resources required.”

Earlier that year, he had founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS (which has now transitioned into the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS) as a vehicle to raise funds for research and treatment. Today the AAEDA continues to work for a cure by training healthcare professionals who work with AIDS and HIV patients and by supporting research. 

In honor of this period of international awareness, the Arthur Ashe Learning Center will be featuring a weeklong series of social media content on AIDS prevention, awareness and the work of the AAEDA. Follow our posts via Twitter, Facebook and our blog with the hashtag #AAEDefeatOfAIDS.