Prince Harry is speaking out on the need to create a resilient, AIDS-free generation.
The Duke of Sussex gave a virtual address during the opening ceremony of the 23rd International AIDS conference on behalf of his Sentebale patronage, encouraging thousands of people to share their stories and experiences of living with HIV and AIDS. The largest conference centering on HIV and AIDS, the event took this year to highlight the HIV community’s successes, as well as address gaps in access to prevention, treatment, and care services from the disease.
“This year’s theme is resilience, something all of us around the globe have understood, specifically over recent months,” began the duke. “And for many, digging deep to find that resilience has been a challenging experience. For those of you affected by HIV and AIDS, the examples of resilience within one’s self and within the community has been felt and fostered for decades. At Sentebale, we see the resilience of young people every single day.”
The Duke of Sussex also introduced two young people, Sekgabo Seselamarumo, 24, and Rethabile Sereba, 22, who shared their personal stories of overcoming the social stigmas of HIV and AIDS.
“These young people are willing to speak out on its injustice, be role models to their peers, support HIV prevention, and challenge limiting systems in the hope of a more inclusive and accepting environment for all. … They are resilience personified. We all succeed when they are empowered,” concluded the prince.
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