The topic of HIV remains challenging for open discussion. It’s not only about medicine—it also involves social prejudice, stigma and discrimination that directly affect the lives of people living with HIV. Any message on this subject can evoke a wide range of emotions—from anxiety to resistance. That’s why it’s especially important for human rights organizations and communications specialists to pay close attention to wording, tone and context.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to talk about HIV on social media: how to explain complex things in simple language, how to avoid stigmatizing people, and at the same time share important and useful information. This not only increases awareness but also helps change public attitudes toward HIV.
It’s especially important to find your own approaches to each topic. Our examples are based on a sex-positive and trans-inclusive approach, but we encourage creativity and adaptation of materials for specific audiences.
The publication was created by ECOM and published within the framework of the regional project “Sustainability of services for key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) — #iSoS: Empowering and Innovations”, implemented by a consortium of organizations under management of the ICF “Alliance for Public Health”, with the financial support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Viewpoints presented herein are solely those of its authors and may not coincide with the views or opinions of the Allians for Public Health and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
