Hollywood actress Charlize Theron used the opening of the 21st International Aids Conference in Durban on Monday night to say why she thinks the world hasn’t won the war against Aids.
“The real reason we haven’t beaten this epidemic boils down to one simple fact: We value some lives more than others‚” she said.
Speaking to a cheering audience‚ the Oscar-winner asked why the world hadn’t ended Aids when we “have every tool in the box to” prevent HIV‚ and referred to a growing range of methods that can be used to curb transmission.
“I think we must acknowledge that something is terribly wrong‚” Theron said.
She said Aids didn’t discriminate between black and white‚ or rich and poor — but people did.
“I think it’s time we face the truth about the unjust world we live in.”
Scientists have used the conference to point out that HIV infection is spreading in what they call “key” populations‚ meaning groups of marginalised people — including sex workers‚ injecting drug users and gay men — who are often condemned and denied access to services and medication.
Theron said the marginalisation had to end.
“We value some lives more than others. We value men more than women. We value straight love more than gay love; white skin more than black skin; the rich more than the poor; and adults more than adolescents‚” she said.
“I know this because Aids does not discriminate on its own.
“We single out the vulnerable‚ and the oppressed and abused.
“We ignore them — we let them suffer and then we let them die. We have to cure disease in our heart and minds first.”
She ended her speech by calling on teenagers to “be the generation that ends this epidemic”.
The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project funds seven community-level foundations in South Africa that work with youth and give them the skills to prevent HIV or access treatment.
Aids does not discriminate on its own: Charlize Theron
Hollywood actress Charlize Theron used the opening of the 21st International Aids Conference in Durban on Monday night to say why she thinks the world hasn’t won the war against Aids.
“The real reason we haven’t beaten this epidemic boils down to one simple fact: We value some lives more than others‚” she said.
Speaking to a cheering audience‚ the Oscar-winner asked why the world hadn’t ended Aids when we “have every tool in the box to” prevent HIV‚ and referred to a growing range of methods that can be used to curb transmission.
“I think we must acknowledge that something is terribly wrong‚” Theron said.
She said Aids didn’t discriminate between black and white‚ or rich and poor — but people did.
“I think it’s time we face the truth about the unjust world we live in.”
Scientists have used the conference to point out that HIV infection is spreading in what they call “key” populations‚ meaning groups of marginalised people — including sex workers‚ injecting drug users and gay men — who are often condemned and denied access to services and medication.
Theron said the marginalisation had to end.
“We value some lives more than others. We value men more than women. We value straight love more than gay love; white skin more than black skin; the rich more than the poor; and adults more than adolescents‚” she said.
“I know this because Aids does not discriminate on its own.
“We single out the vulnerable‚ and the oppressed and abused.
“We ignore them — we let them suffer and then we let them die. We have to cure disease in our heart and minds first.”
She ended her speech by calling on teenagers to “be the generation that ends this epidemic”.
The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project funds seven community-level foundations in South Africa that work with youth and give them the skills to prevent HIV or access treatment.
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