Liz McInnes MP supports event to tackle HIV stigma and discrimination

Liz Mcinnes MP

Liz McInnes MP has given her support to tackling HIV stigma and discrimination at a House of Commons reception to mark the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day which was on Saturday 1 December 2018.

The reception was jointly hosted by STOPAIDS, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and the APPG on HIV/AIDS as part of ENDAIDS2030, a weeklong festival of events to mark the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day by raising public awareness of HIV and uniting the domestic and international HIV sectors in the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

A panel including Alistair Burt MP, Minister for the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and Chairman of the Champions for an AIDS Free Generation, spoke on the topic of improving the quality of life for people living with HIV.

Liz McInnes MP was among more than 20 parliamentarians who took part in a photocall, highlighting the need to address the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV, which continues to act as a barrier to people getting tested and accessing life-saving treatment. 

Liz McInnes MP said: “It was a pleasure to attend the event to mark 30 years of World Aids Day. Huge progress has been made over the years in treating and preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS and we mustn’t relax and stop that fight.

“And it is particularly important that as we succeed in making it a treatable condition we do all we can to tackle stigma and discrimination affecting those living with it.”