Today an estimated 35 million people are living with HIV, of which about 3.2 million are children under the age of 15. The global campaign of World AIDS Day has been held for over 20 years around the world to protect the rights of those living with HIV and to fight against the disease. HIV infection occurs mostly in Africa, where the lack of medication, proper medical treatment and adequate knowledge of the disease is still very common. Because of these facts the World Health Organisation (WHO) will pass new recommendations in order to treat people exposed to HIV and the UN is devoted to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Apart from securing the right for medical treatment, the respect of the human rights of HIV positive people are also of utmost importance. People suffering from the disease are exposed to discrimination. The red ribbon, the symbol of World AIDS Day, represents the protest against their discrimination.

In Hungary up until the second quarter of 2014, 2 716 HIV infected were registered. According to experts the number of patients is constantly increasing. The Human Rights Working Group emphasizes that people suffering from AIDS have the right to preserve their human dignity as well as to receive proper medical treatment and to live a life without discrimination.