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Positive Lives

We cannot deal with AIDS by making moral judgements or refusing to face unpleasant facts and still less by stigmatising those who are infected and making out that it is alltheir fault.

Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General United Nations General Assembly, Special Session on HIV/AIDS, June 2001

Positive Lives is a unique international project that photographs and
documents the social and emotional impact of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, illuminating positive human responses to this world crisis. As a collection of images and text, Positive Lives focuses on personal stories of those at the heart of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It offers extraordinary insights into the lives of individuals, families and communities who are affected by HIV/AIDS, reflecting the issues and emotions which confront them in the daily reality of living or working with the disease.

By sharing these stories, we can all face the challenges, myths and
prejudices surrounding HIV/AIDS and understand how the human spirit has found expression in the form of positive responses. The courage and
commitment of the individuals who are photographed for "Positive Lives" cannot be underestimated. Their willingness to share the stories gives them a voice and allows others to learn. The virus does not discriminate. HIV affects us all.

HIV/AIDS is a misunderstood disease, surrounded by fears, misinformation, prejudices, and enormous uncertainties. People living with HIV/AIDS are often living with isolation and antagonism. However, the human spirit that emerges from the trials and tribulations of the epidemic has found expression in the form of extraordinary positive responses in many different cultures and social situations - whether in caring for others, changing attitudes or taking responsibility for those at risk.

The greates battle for those living with HIV and those struggling to extend education and information to those at risk through transmission, is social stigma, discrimination and fear. Through the stories of individuals and those close to them, the Positive Lives images inspire action and
understanding across the globe and challenge the prejudices surrounding HIV/AIDS.

The continually growing collection of stories reflected in Positive Lives
illuminate the many ways people have chosen to respond to the disease and the stigma and prejudice associated with it. A few of the images and texts that go to make up Positive Lives are set out as examples of the themes dealt with in the stories. They range from issues of confidentiality, fear, prejudice, exclusion and survival, through to care, support, compassion, trust and openness.

Similar themes are repeated in various ways in communities around the world. The stories that go to make up Positive Lives highlight those issues and inspire others to action. In all countries where the HIV/AIDS epidemic has struck, there are a range of basic issues to do with transmission,
prevention, care and survival. For those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, there are daily challenges, as many people fear the illness so much that stigma and discrimination become their dominant expression rather than support and encouragement. Some of the problems are common to all countries; some ar very different. The work of Positive Lives is to tell stories of individuals to support and encourage others, whether they come from the same or different countries and cultures.

The overwhelming response from those living with HIV/AIDS when they see Positive Lives is that they are not alone, that others in countries round the globe face the same daily problems and that the illness has to respect for wealth, race, religion or sexual orientation. Throughout the ten years of the project, over four million people have viewed Positive Lives in its various format around the world.

Positive Lives aims to reach the widest and most diverse audiences possible in a multitude of cultures, social environments and political climates. Its goal is to reach the people who have been excluded or rejected from mainstream society for reason of ethnicity, sexuality or class. At the same time the focus of Positive Lives is to communicate to members of society who through fear, misunderstanding or prejudice, discriminate against and stigmatise those living with or affected by the disease.

The work of Positive Lives has been made possible by the commitment of the following outstanding photographers: Mike Abrahams, Shahidul Alam, Gigi Cohen, Mike Goldwater, C. Moore Hardy, Fritz Hoffman, Harriet Logan, Peter Jordan, Osamu Kikuchi, Paul Reas, Denis Doran, Steve Pyke, Paul Lowe, Barry Lewis, Jenny Matthews, Gideon Mendel, Jack Picone, Christopher Pillitz, Mark Power, Eugene Richards, Judah Passow, Dayanita Singh, John Sturrock, Roger Hutchings, Stuart Freedman.