Friday, 30 October 2009

Robert Key M.B.E.

October 2009 - The global HIV community has lost one of its major supporters in the fight against stigma and prejudice. It is with great sadness that we inform you that Robert Key, Director of the Elton John AIDS Foundation recently died. Robert and the EJAF have been great supporters of Positive Lives for many years. It was Robert's vision that enabled Positive Lives to undertake ground breaking HIV education work in India and Bangladesh some years ago. We have all lost a person of vision and dedication in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Positive Lives committee

Friday, 23 October 2009

Positive Lives in Mexico

Mexico - Positive Lives exhibition at the Universidad Iberoamericana de Puebla; in partnership with Ayuda en Acción México. 29 October - 21 November 2009.

Monday, 13 July 2009

Positive Lives Exhibitions in Liberia - (Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties)


The first cases of HIV/AIDS in Liberia were reported in 1985 - though civil war hampered attempts to respond to the outbreak. It was in 2000 that the role of National AIDS Commissioner was established; in order to co-ordinate all HIV/AIDS activities across Liberia.

Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties have a prevalence of HIV/AIDS and
large numbers of people in these areas have little access to education
programmes, testing or treatment due to discrimination - individuals,
families and whole communities are affected by the stigmatisation
associated with HIV/AIDS.

The Positive Live Exhibition tour in Liberia was co-ordinated by the two
County Health Teams as well as local HIV activists; and with the support
of UNHCR-Liberia. The Exhibition programme featured community events
including drama, music, a street parade, quizzes, sports events and
condom distribution.

For each venue the organising committees set up focal points where
visitors could read explanations of the exhibited photographs or ask
question of the facilitators from MERCI and Tiyatien Health.

The Positive Lives Exhibition and programme benefited large numbers of
people from across the community: local people, refugees, County
representatives, youth groups, NGOs, UNMIL and UN agencies.

HIV activists and support groups from across the Grand Gedeh and
Maryland counties worked together for the first time to organise these
stigma reducing events and activities.

The Exhibition was at its most successful when it prompted people to
break their silence and speak about their situation or attitude
regarding HIV/AIDS. And when this dialogue occurs within the community
and not just the exhibitions venues then the value of the Exhibition and
programme activities are most apparent.



(report and images made available to Positive Lives by UNHCR/UNFPA)

Friday, 3 July 2009

UNFPA / UNHCR and Positive Lives 2009



The Positive Lives exhibition continues to tour in Africa, co-ordinated by our partners UNHCR / UNFPA - the exhibition venues include refugee camps.

The tour has completed in Liberia and the exhibition and associated educational activities will soon re-locate to Togo. Further details will soon be available.

UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) have produced a User Guide to support the Positive Lives exhibition when it is touring within humanitarian and low-resource settings.

Visit the Positive Lives website to read more about this tour and User Guide.

Thursday, 2 July 2009

Picture of the Year International (POYi)



Positive Lives photographer Jodi Bieber has won 1st Prize Portrait Series with 'Real Beauty' at Picture of the Year International (POYi) in the USA, March 2009.

REAL BEAUTY – “I felt a strong need to create a body of work that goes against what the media has depicted as beautiful.” - Jodi Bieber

Jodi Bieber homepage
Jodi Bieber(Real Beauty)
POYi (Jodi Bieber)

Positive Lives Exhibition Tour in Poland



July 7th – July 31st 2009
The European Capital of Culture 2016
(Gdansk Office - Długi Targ 39/40 Street, 80-830 Gdańsk)

The Positive Lives exhibition is open to the public: in particular NGOs, media and the Tri-city (Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot) inhabitants - an exhibition leaflet in Polish is available. The lead organisers for the exhibition are the Federation for Women and Family Planning, ActionAid Italy and the Political Critique, Gdansk Club.

April 7th - May 7th 2009
University of Warsaw Library
The Positive Lives exhibition is open to the public: in particular NGOs, MPs, media, students and the inhabitants of Warsaw – with an exhibition leaflet in Polish available. Lead organisers for the exhibition: ActionAid Italy and the Federation for Women and Family Planning.

The photograph shows the opening ceremony for the exhibition - April 7th in Warsaw.

Monday, 9 March 2009

World Press Photo of the Year Awards 2009



Positive Lives photographer Pep Bonet has won second prize in the World Press Photo of Year 2009 competition within the 'PORTRAITS/Stories' section for his series Forced Identity: transsexual sex workers, Honduras, commissioned by Positive Lives with Ayuda en Acción.


Pep Bonet is with Noor images agency.

World Press Photo / Pep Bonet

World Press Photo award winners


Photograph © Pep Bonet / Noor