World campaign for zero discrimination
Chhay Sophal
Phnom Penh (28 Feb 2014): HIV/AIDS policy makers, workers and activists around the world on Saturday will organise the global awareness of zero discrimination against Most at Risk Populations (MARPs) — Men Who Have Sex with Men & Tran Gender, Entertainment Workers/Sex Workers, and Injected Drug Users — and People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). The Day was launched during the World AIDS Day of 1 December last year with an initiative of Daw Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi with the support from UNAIDS.
The 1st March “Zero Discrimination Day” is the opportunity to celebrate everyone’s right to live a full and productive life with dignity – no matter what they look like, where they come from or whom they love.
According to a report obtained by New Youth from UNAIDS office in Cambodia, “Zero Discrimination Day” is moment to highlight how everyone can become informed and promote tolerance, compassion and peace.
Holly Norrie, Social Mobilization Officer of UNAIDS office in Cambodia, said the “Zero Discrimination Day” this year is focusing on many issues beyond HIV/AIDS discrimination as it moves to broader matters related to HIV/AIDS such as belief, religion, races and sex.
The people around the world take 1 March to make campaign on the issue through social media Network, she said.
According to UNAIDS, discrimination is a violation of human rights and it is illegal, immoral, hurtful as well as dehumanizing.
“Too many people around the world face unequal treatment because of race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or identity, disability, gender or age,” UNAIDS said, adding that without achieving zero discrimination, it is impossible to get zero HIV infection and zero AIDS-related death.
Cambodia is also committing with the world to achieve zero discrimination, zero HIV infection, and zero AIDS-related death in 2020. Due to facing with worst stigma and discrimination, PLHA and MARPs in Cambodia established a network known as the ‘Joint Forum for Network of PLHA and MARPs’ or FoNPARMs in mid-2011, presenting PLHA and MARPs in the country.
During the celebration of the 1st March “Zero Discrimination Day”, UNAIDS is calling on everyone to “Open up, Reach out” to transform communities and move towards a world where everyone’s rights are respected.