What is the Red Ribbon?

The Red Ribbon is the international symbol of HIV & AIDS awareness.  It is not a symbol of gay rights (that’s the rainbow ribbon) or breast cancer awareness (pink ribbon).

Care & Concern

It is being worn by increasing numbers of people around the world to demonstrate their care & concern about HIV & AIDS – for those who are ill, for those who have died & for those who care for & support those directly affected.

Hope

The Red Ribbon is intended to be a symbol of hope – that the search for a vaccine & cure to halt the suffering is successful & the quality of life improves for those living with the virus.

Support

The Red Ribbon offers symbolic support for those living with HIV, for the continuing education of those not infected, for maximum efforts to find effective treatments, cures or vaccines, & for those who have lost friends, family members or loved ones to AIDS.

If you are offered a Red Ribbon, you are asked to take it & wear it as a tribute to millions of people living with or affected by HIV & AIDS worldwide.

Anyone can wear a Red Ribbon.  You don’t have to be gay, HIV-positive or living with AIDS to demonstrate that you have an understanding of the issues surrounding HIV & AIDS.

Take action on World AIDS Day, 1 December.

Wearing a Red Ribbon is the first step in the fight against HIV & AIDS.

Click here for more information on World AIDS Day, and in Singapore, to find out more about Action for AIDS.

You can also read Lester’s story – he’s 21 years old, studying at a local university, lives with his family in an HDB flat and is HIV-positive.