What even is World AIDS Day?

World AIDS Day is a moment where people around the world come together to stand up to HIV stigma and honour the lives lost over the past four decades. Since 1988, it has been a day of visibility, strength and solidarity.

Here in Northern Ireland, HIV is still widely misunderstood. Around 1,300 people are currently living with HIV across NI, and many are quietly navigating stigma on top of managing their health. Across the UK, more than 105,000 people live with HIV, and globally that figure rises to an estimated 38 million. More than 35 million people have died from HIV-related illnesses, marking HIV as one of the most significant public health crises in modern history.

Today, thanks to medical progress, people living with HIV can expect long, healthy lives. We also have the tools to end new HIV transmissions entirely. But the reality on the ground is clear: stigma hasn’t disappeared. In Northern Ireland, people still face discrimination in work, education, housing and even within healthcare settings. At Positive Life, we hear these stories every week. The fear, the shame, the judgement—none of it reflects the truth about HIV in 2025.

World AIDS Day gives us space to centre those real experiences. It’s a time to recognise the strength, resilience and diversity within our own communities here in NI. And it’s a reminder that leadership matters—because if we’re serious about building a future where HIV never limits anyone’s life, we all have a role to play.

So, what's the craic with the ribbon?

The Red Ribbon is the universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV. It was created in 1991 by a group of artists working with Visual AIDS in New York, who wanted a simple but powerful way to show solidarity at a time when stigma was at its peak.

What they designed has become one of the most recognisable symbols in the world. The Red Ribbon was created as a visible act of compassion, a way for people to say, “I see you, I stand with you,” without needing to say anything at all. The colour red was chosen deliberately; bold, unapologetic, and tied to ideas of love, heart, passion and courage.

Here in Northern Ireland, the Red Ribbon carries that same meaning. Every year, we give away hundreds. It’s a small gesture with a big message: that people living with HIV deserve dignity, respect and equality. And that our community stands firmly against stigma in all its forms.