NBA Player, Actor Join U.N. Campaign To Curb HIV Stigma, Discrimination in China
The United Nations on Wednesday announced that National Basketball Association player Yao Ming, who was born in China, and Chinese film star Pu Cunxin have joined the "We Are Friends" campaign, a U.N. initiative to curb stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS in China, the AP/Dallas Morning News reports. Yao will be featured in posters that display the slogan, "HIV/AIDS will not affect our friendship." Yao in the poster will be standing with a group of children and signing autographs (AP/Dallas Morning News, 4/18). The campaign aims to promote the inclusion of HIV-positive people in workplaces, schools and families, Reuters reports. Allessandra Tisot, United Nations Development Programme senior deputy resident for China, said the United Nations "trust[s] this campaign will help disseminate our common stand for positive action, care and full integration of people live with HIV or AIDS in our global society" (Reuters, 4/18). As part of the campaign, more than 200,000 posters will be distributed throughout the country. In addition, a mini documentary will be distributed, and a resource kit, as well as other materials, will be developed. The posters will be printed in Chinese, as well as in the ethnic minority languages Tibetan, Uighur and Jingbo, according to the AP/Morning Post (AP/Dallas Morning Post, 4/18).
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