15 June 2008

Beijing, China: Convened by UNV and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the UN system in China has launched a training programme for Olympic Volunteers on HIV prevention and anti-discrimination.

The training is conducted in collaboration with the Beijing Youth League, Marie Stopes International (MSI) China and the Red Cross Society of China and is part of the volunteers' preparation for service during the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Around 5,500 volunteers participated in the training in 12 different universities from 14-15 June, while 100,000 volunteers will receive a basic information package on AIDS, providing a unique opportunity to reach talented Chinese youth with important knowledge and skills on HIV prevention and anti-discrimination. Among the trainers are people living with HIV who have been coached in instructional techniques and public speaking as part of a project supported by UNAIDS and UNDP.

"Many young people do not have the right information on AIDS, fuelling false fears, stigma and discrimination. This is bad in itself, but also hampers HIV prevention work," said Bernhard Schwartländer, the UNAIDS Country Coordinator in China. "Engaging some of China's most capable young people and making them the messengers of positive and correct knowledge on HIV can help dispel inaccurate myths and break down the stigma and discrimination against people affected by HIV," he added.

The training is an important contribution to the response to HIV in China as well as to the successful organization of the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics. Volunteers who have been chosen to serve during the Olympics are among the brightest youth in China. Many may go on to be future leaders, making them a highly relevant target audience for training in key development issues.

"We hope that through this training, Olympics volunteers, as ambassadors for Beijing citizens, will be better prepared to inclusively welcome all groups of people to Beijing during the Games, especially those living with HIV. It is our hope that Olympic volunteers will share this knowledge and look for opportunities to continue volunteering on important development issues such as raising awareness of HIV and AIDS," stated UNDP Country Director Subinay Nandy.

The training event was co-funded by UNAIDS, UNDP and UNV and is one of many planned in a partnership between UNDP, UNV and the Beijing Youth League within a project aimed at strengthening volunteerism for development in China through the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Contact details:

Ole Hansen | UNAIDS China | +86 8532 2226 | hanseno@unaids.org
Zhang Wei | UNDP China | +86 8532 0715 | wei.zhang@undp.org
Scott McQuade  | UNV HQ | +49 228 815 2001 | scott.mcquade@unvolunteers.org

For more information on UNAIDS in China, see www.unaids.org.cn