In January 2019, in one of the most egregious acts of its kind, the private and confidential information of 14,200 persons diagnosed in Singapore with HIV was leaked online. This was followed by reports that people who were affected by the data leak were being targeted by employers over their health status. Responding to this, Action for AIDS teamed up with diversity and inclusive advocates, Be-Inclusive (https://be-inclusive.com), to promote the Employer’s Pledge on HIV in the Workplace initiative.
To date, over 100 companies representing a wide range of businesses and organisations have signed the pledge to not discriminate against any of their employees on the basis of their HIV status; to provide support to employees who suffer HIV-related harassment or discrimination; and to promote workplace education that can help reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
To further support the ongoing move towards an environment free from stigma and discrimination, Action for AIDS is announcing the launch of the ‘AfA Fund for The Arts’. The Fund intends to award grants of up to S$20,000 per project that have strong focus on ending stigma and discrimination. Selection will be done by a panel appointed by Action for AIDS, Singapore.
The AfA Fund for the Arts is the first dedicated fund of its kind to target stigma and discrimination faced by the HIV+ community.
President of Action for AIDS, Prof Roy Chan says, ‘AfA is committed to ending stigma and discrimination facing the HIV+ community. The data leak has shown that the unacceptable levels of discrimination that our HIV+ friends and family members face. This has to end.
We hope that the AfA Fund for The Arts will help engage creative and innovative minds in our arts and filmmaking community to address stigma and discrimination, and to use their talent to enlighten the wider community that being accepting and supportive is the way forward.’
Details of AfA Fund for The Arts can be found at –
https://afa.org.sg/whatwedo/
Issued by
Action for AIDS, Singapore
artsfund@afa.org.sg
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