Brazilian football star David Luiz appointed new UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador
UNAIDS leverages the power of football ahead of FIFA 2014 World Cup
GENEVA, 16 April 2014- In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil starting in June, UNAIDS has teamed
up with Brazilian football champion and vice-captain of the national Brazilian football team David Luiz, appointing him as UNAIDS
International Goodwill Ambassador.
David Luiz, who is playing in the Premier League, will support UNAIDS by promoting the organization's key advocacy and
outreach initiatives. He will help mobilize football fans around the world, particularly young people, with important messages
calling for an end to discrimination, advocating for HIV prevention and access to HIV treatment for people living with HIV.
"I am convinced that David with his heart and compassion will make a big difference reaching out to millions of young
people," said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. "In football, players come together to produce results. In the same
way we must unite and as a team get to zero new HIV infections. During the World Cup, everyone's eyes will be on Brazil and David
will be an inspiration both on and off the pitch."
"It is a massive honour to be a global ambassador for UNAIDS and I want to use this position to spread the word
about how to overcome AIDS around the world," said David Luiz. "People will be looking to my country Brazil to see great
football at the World Cup and this is a great opportunity for UNAIDS and I to speak out-and I want to help make UNAIDS the winning team."
David Luiz is featured in Protect the Goal which is a UNAIDS campaign using the popularity and convening power of sport
to raise awareness of HIV and drive young people to commit to HIV prevention. In addition, David Luiz is promoting
UNAIDS' #zerodiscrimination campaign, which calls on people to celebrate everyone's right to live a full life
with dignity - no matter what they look like, where they come from or whom they love.
Of the total estimated 35.3 million people living with HIV around the world, an estimated 5.4 million are young people
aged 10-24. Many are unaware of their status. There are some 900 000 adolescents (10-14) living
with HIV. In addition, an estimated 780 000 of the total 2.3 million new HIV infections worldwide are among adolescents and
young people aged 15-24 with 97% of the new infections occurring in low and middle-income countries.
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UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV
infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations-UNHCR, UNICEF,
WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank-and works closely with global and national partners
to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and
connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .
Contact
UNAIDS Geneva
Tina Bille
tel. +41 22 791 4928
billet@unaids.org
UNAIDS Geneva
Saya Oka
tel. +41 22 791 1552
okas@unaids.org
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