GBC WORLD AIDS DAY ACTIVITIES 2006
Kenya Focuses on Healthy Women Healthy Economies
In Nairobi, Kenya for a Healthy Women Healthy Economies Member Field Trip, GBC drew attention to the increasing feminization of AIDS – more than half of all people living with HIV are women. Member company delegates experienced the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and children. They took part in programs that address the empowerment of women living with HIV/AIDS, gender violence, and improved female access to healthcare. The delegation also toured GBC member company Unilever Tea Kenya, observing workplace interventions against AIDS in a predominantly female workforce. Other site visits included: Kenya Network of Women Living with AIDS (KENWA), Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital and New Life Home (Kilimani).
The trip culminated on World AIDS Day with the Africa Business Symposium, where leaders from the business, NGO, and government sectors convened to advocate for increased action on HIV/AIDS. The symposium, led by GBC President and CEO Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, consisted of panel discussions on best practices, the feminization of AIDS, and public-private partnerships.
» View the agenda of the symposium
» View the participants of the GBC member delegation
Worldwide, 90 percent of people living with HIV do not know they carry the virus. As part of the member trip to East Africa, Ambassador Holbrooke along with U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger and WNBA player Ruth Riley, took public HIV tests to help reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
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"I was honored to participate in the GBC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies trip to Kenya," said Ruth Riley (above), All-Star center for the WNBA’s Detroit Shock. "It was especially rewarding for me to spend time with the women and children in need here. I hope that our efforts, especially surrounding the need for HIV testing and World AIDS Day, will have a substantial impact on women and children and demonstrate to them the importance of education, awareness and prevention." Ambassador Holbrooke (below) also took part in the HIV testing as part of World AIDS Day activities. |
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» Company commitments announced at the Kenya event
» Link to the HWHE initiative
European Business Leadership on HIV/AIDS
In Paris, France, GBC published a leadership statement on European business and AIDS signed by top executives from over 30 companies. The declaration affirmed the efforts of Europe’s corporate leaders to include HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, and care for employees and the surrounding communities in developing countries.
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| Jean-Michel Debrat, Deputy Director of AFD (left); Bertrand Collomb, Vice-Chairman of GBC and Chairman of Lafarge (center left); Gilles Pelisson, CEO of Accor (center right) ; and Michele Barzach, President of the GlaxoSmithKline French Business Foundation (right) gathered during a press conference to discuss successful business initiatives in 2006 and opportunities for 2007. |
GBC also launched an Interactive HIV/AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Course and a DVD-Rom as a follow-up to the European CEO Summit on Business and AIDS that was held in October. Designed to help member companies plan and implement HIV/AIDS workplace programs, the M&E tool is comprehensive and user-friendly.
» View the press release on the M&E course
» View the press release on the CEO declaration
» View the list of declaration signatories
AIDS Film Reaches 300 Million Viewers in China
In China, Worldwide Documentaries’ film A Closer Walk aired December 1st on China’s CCTV. Facilitated by generous funding from GBC member companies General Motors, Colgate-Palmolive and BD, the film was expected to have an audience of 300 million viewers.
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| GBC China Director meets with Vice Minister Wang and BD representative at the premiere of A Closer Walk |
» View press coverage from China
» Learn more about GBC China’s Initiatives
Russian Music for AIDS Awareness
Currently merging with GBC, Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS (TPAA), together with the Russian Media Partnership to Combat HIV/AIDS, TimeOut Magazine and NCA, hosted a charity concert titled "Affects Everyone, Everybody Participates." The event featured popular Russian rock musicians and took place at St. Petersburg’s Ledovy Dvorets (Ice Palace). The concert benefited one of the largest St. Petersburg clinics and demonstrated to young people that while HIV affects everyone, they can all be part of the solution. The event was supported by the St. Petersburg city administration.
GBC Advertising Campaign
In a global advertising campaign targeting Southern and Eastern Africa, North America and China, GBC highlighted member company leadership on HIV/AIDS and called upon other companies to take action.
Ads have appeared in the New York Times, China Daily, the Moscow Times, the Daily Nation and The Standard of Kenya, Business Day (South Africa), Mmegi (Botswana), and The Namibian (Namibia)
Financial Times Special Report on Business and AIDS
In conjunction with the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), GBC partnered with the Financial Times to create a Business and AIDS supplement. Covering many aspects of the business response to the epidemic, the supplement was included in all December 1st print editions and is also available on the website. Worldwide circulation of the Financial Times stands at 432,548 with global readership estimated at over 1.6 million people in more than 140 countries.
GBC and Member Companies are Reaching out to Employees
Drawing attention to how individual employees can directly engage in various international campaigns, GBC partnered with member companies on an employee email campaign for World AIDS Day.