10 Reasons Why Canadians Should Get Involved in International AIDS Issues

Taken from Health Canada’s The Case for Canadians to Act Globally in HIV/AIDS, to be published in the Spring of 2000.

1. Canada has committed itself to participate in the international fight against AIDS through the Canadian HIV/AIDS Strategy.
2. Canada is a strong supporter of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations’ International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.
3. Canada is an internationally recognized leader with a long and distinguished history as a diverse and outward-looking society, committed to providing significant humanitarian support.
4. Our medical breakthroughs allow us to speak with credibility on a world stage.
5. In the era of the global village, events outside our borders affect us directly. HIV and other diseases such as tuberculosis cannot simply be contained by geographical borders.
6. An early and active response from all sectors of society has the potential to avert incredible suffering and to save millions of lives.
7. Developing collaborative relationships with organizations in various regions of the world exposes us to inventive strategies that may have broad application in our own communities.
8. Our country’s collective experience in HIV/AIDS work is substantial and we have much to share with others.
9. Acting globally is also in our economic interest, being an export-import country that counts on the vibrancy of other world markets.
10. International work can augment an organization’s profile and reputation, important with respect to one’s public affairs, media relations, employee recruitment and fundraising activities.

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