World AIDS Day has been celebrated around the world on 1st December, every year since 1988.

Although Birmingham did celebrate World AIDS Day in 1988 it did not officially start its own celebrations until the following year when a World AIDS Day committee was set up.

The membership of Birmingham World AIDS Day Steering group has been fluid over the years with a number of core members. The World AIDS Day Co-ordinator post is housed within the Sexual Health Promotion Service at HoBtPCT.

Each year a Global theme( and sometimes aNational and Local theme as well) is selected for the Day and events will focus on promoting awareness of this theme.

Below is a list of the themes that Birmingham followed for each World AIDS Day. For memories and copies of the World AIDS Day Reports please click on the individual links below.

World AIDS Day 1988:

World AIDS Day 1989:

World AIDS Day 1990:

World AIDS Day 1991:

World AIDS Day 1992:

World AIDS Day 1993:

World AIDS Day 1994:

World AIDS Day 1995:

World AIDS Day 1996:

World AIDS Day 1997:

Birmingham chose the theme 'Children Living in a World with AIDS'. Packs of information and Red Ribbons were distributed around the city with some of the information translated into Chinese and Asian Languages. There was a competition for children to design posters to accompany the Campaign and the winner was Terri Scarlet from Allen's Cross Girls Group.  The BOSS Project and Sexual Health Promotion ran an event at Dome II nightclub on World AIDS Day to raise awareness of HIV amoungst its clientel - proceeds of the collection went to AIDSLINE West Midlands.

World AIDS Day 1998:

As part of the events for this year Cadbury College GNVQ Advanced Health and Social Care Students collected information about the impact of the year's awareness raising promotion and wrote a report.  Proceeds from the year's collection went to Avert.

World AIDS Day 1999:

The focus in this year was on communication with young people and children. Three aspects were highlighted as part of this campaign: Listen, Learn and Live. A poster competitionwas once again launched and Micheal Cooper from Focus Housing won. Selly Oak Probation Department made 70,000 red ribbons using red ribbon and pins supplied by the Health Promotion Service. The Tony De-Vit World AIDS Day Memorial at Sundissential (The Pulse Nightclub) was held to commemorate the death of the Birmingham DJ. A World AIDS Day video was also produced in collaboration with CSV Media. Television and Newspapers were judged to have grown 'tired' of HIV/AIDS and only picked up stories of disputes between local HIV organisations. A Candle Light procession began in Chamberlain Square with opening speech from Councillor Cybil Spence and Mike Parker as compere. Rainbow Voices sang and members of the Maypole Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Group read the names of those to be remembered. The quilt was displayed during the evening of the parade in an empty shop unit.

World AIDS Day 2000:

This year saw the start of a two year campaign called 'Men make a difference' which focused on the role of men in the AIDS epidemic. The campaign had three goals: to raise awareness of the relationship between men's behaviour and HIV; to encourage men to commit to preventing HIV and caring for those affected; to promote programmes that respond to both men and women. To promote the campaign a radio campaign was launched on Galazy 102.2FM and in local media. The candlelight Procession on 1st Decemeber began again at Chamberlain Square. Councillor Sue Anderson gave the opening speech and Upton Clue compered the evening, the procession ended at the Arcadian Centre.

World AIDS Day 2001:

The world-wide theme for this year continued to focus on the role of men with a 'I Care...Do You?' campaign which focused on involving all men in the fight against AIDS and to involve political leaders in the responses to the HIV epidemic. Birmingham chose to follow it own localised campaign ' We Can All Make A Difference' which focused on the whole of the city's population enabling the materials to target various ethnic minority communities. The materials comprised of five A3 posters depicting different relationships as well as a single man and a single woman. There was no Candlelight Procession this year due to building work around the city centre, the Steering Group made the decision to hold an event  on 1st December at the Shakespere Theatre Room in Birmingham Central Library. The event, compered by Walter Gillgower, ran all day and included a Candlelight Vigil. There was a radio campaign broadcast on Galaxy, Heart FM and Radio Excel. Several Newspaper Articles were also published:

Warning as city AIDS cases soar - Metro, 22.11.01

HIV is increasing at a faster rate among heterosexuals than gays, - Birmingham Post 24.11.01

New HIV warning - Evening Mail, 24.11.01

I've learnt to live with HIV - Evening Mail, 29.11.01

AIDS virus found in pregnant women - Evening Mail, 30.11.01

How pregnancy test can lift HIV shame - Birmingham Post, 30.11.01

AIDS-The truth is it's still out there - Birmingham Post 01.12.01

World AIDS Day 2002:

The world-wide theme for this year was 'Live and Let Live' which focused on eliminating stigma and prejudice. After the sucess of the previous year's campaign Birmingham once again elected to follow its own theme and target the city's ethnic minority communities in the 'Globally United Against Prejudice' campaign. A 'Youth Arts Project' was started this year to encourage young people to get involved in the campaign. Over 80 young people took part and produced pieces of artwork based on facts and myths relating to HIV/AIDS. They were displayed at the Central Library from 2nd December - 18th December. The first ever indoor Candlelight Vigil took place at ABplus as part of an evening event compered by Nigel Burbidge and Paul Roden. For the first time the Lord Mayor (Councillor Mahmood Hussain) gave the opening speech. Attendees were given the opportunity to leave personal messages on the 'Wall of Love'. Trees outside of the Birmingham Hippodrom Theatre were dressed with Red Ribbons and World AIDS Day banners.

World AIDS Day 2003:

World AIDS Day 2004:

World AIDS Day 2005:

World AIDS Day 2006:

World AIDS Day 2007:

World AIDS Day 2008:

World AIDS Day 2009:

The second year of the Positively Red Campaign saw Birmingham celebrate World AIDS Day with a variety of events including South Birmingham College's Fashion Show at Selfridges, Service in Birmingham Cathederal, Birmingham Library Theatre's Touring Production of 'Who's Breaking' by Philip Osment, Series of HIV Awareness sessions, Living Archive Exhibition and the Positively Red Concert.

World AIDS Day 2010: