More than 60 landmark buildings and monuments around Ireland will be illuminated in red light to raise awareness of HIV and HIV-related stigma in Ireland, with a particular emphasis on women.

Recently published statistics regarding HIV in Ireland from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that women represented 34% of newly notified cases in Ireland in 2022, up from 25% in 2019. Women accounted for 21 percent of first-time diagnoses (34) in the last year.

The 34% figure includes people with a previous diagnosis of HIV who are linking to care in Ireland.

The Glow Red campaign, supported by GSK-ViiV healthcare, is being fronted by broadcaster and activist Rebecca Tallon de Havilland, who has lived with HIV since 1987, and Aoife Commins, a nurse from Galway who has recently spoken publicly about her HIV diagnosis and the impact this had had on her life.

Executive Director of HIV Stephen O’Hare said of the upcoming campaign: “This year, the global theme of World AIDS Day is “Let Communities Lead. Yet one community that is often silenced in the discussion, both in relation to prevention and stigma, is women. Glow Red aims to change that,” he said.

Ambassador for the Glow Red campaign 2023 Ms Rebecca Tallon de Havilland said: “Stigma stops women, including trans women, from seeking the information and support we need. When nobody talks about women and HIV, women have no one to talk to.

Continuing Tallon de Havilland says; "It is vital that women, particularly those at increased vulnerability to acquiring HIV in our communities, have access to suitable preventive and supportive options such as access to PrEP and PEP, testing and treatment, outreach, and psychological support.”

“I spent the better part of my life living with the stigma and shame that society attaches to HIV,” continued Ms Tallon de Havilland.

Concluding her statement she said: “No woman, whether they are cis or trans, gay or straight, should have to live with, and be subjected to, stigma. We already know that if we don’t end the stigma attached to HIV, we won’t end HIV transmissions at all. Women belong in this conversation.”

One of the many public figures who spoke out to raise awareness and fight HIV stigma was Drag Queen Panti Bliss who shared a post on X that read 'Look at me! Fat, healthy, and 55, living with HIV for 27 years!":

Today is World AIDS Day and this is me telling you to get tested. Thanks to super-effective, easy modern treatments, a positive result today is not the end of the world. And they work even better the sooner you start.
Look at me! Fat, healthy, and 55, living with HIV 27 years! 💪

— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) December 1, 2023

Another Irish public figure who spoke out on World AIDS day was Anna Rogers who celebrated the Netflix release of her award winning documentary HOW TO TELL A SECRET. The film details what it means to be HIV positive in Ireland in this day and age.

Celebrating our Netflix release of HOW TO TELL A SECRET @ASecretFilm this World AIDS Day and remembering Thom Mc Ginty, who is so beautifully represented by @LadyVeda here. Available in the UK and Ireland. @nicolawatkins @NetflixUK @InvisibleThrd @artscouncil_ie #WAD2023 pic.twitter.com/ufQlcl9t2s

— Anna Rodgers (@AnnaRodgersDocs) December 1, 2023

The list of 60 buildings to be lit up red today include Cork City Hall, Bank of Ireland College Green, Genesys Ireland - The Alcantara Building Galway, Killarney town Hall Kerry, and then some. You can find the full list of buildings here.