CAIRO - A red ribbon is wrapped around a baby's small body, suspending it in a white space. This photo attracted many people's attention, since a baby symbolises innocence and helplessness in our culture. It is not surprising that this photo won the first prize in the UNIADS Photo Contest 2010. Dina Ezzat, the photographer who took the photo, explained that the red ribbon was a consciousness-raising symbol to show solidarity with people living with HIV. She said that the ribbon was keeping the baby from falling. We can feel that a positive energy permeates the white space and that the baby feels safe. This is just one of 50 photos in this UNAIDS photo exhibition called “Positive Faces of Egypt” in collaboration with el-Sawy Cultural Centre in Cairo. Some of the photos, in the exhibition which runs until May 21, depict positive faces from the recent revolution and others highlight faces rejecting HIV/AIDS related stigmata in Egypt. “The UNAIDS photography exhibition and discussion forum intend to highlight the role of art and youth play by promoting social change and human rights,” Dr Wessam el-Beih, the UNAIDS Co-ordinator in Egypt, told The Egyptian Gazette in an interview. “During the January 25 revolution, Egyptians were capable of overcoming the fear barrier and silence about certain rights. I hope another kind of revolution will happen and take care of those living with HIV/AIDS and eliminate other social, economic and health problems,” she added. The revolution has brought many positive feelings to the surface, feelings that Egyptians have been nurturing for a long time. A sense of unity and nationalism was all but forgotten under the previous regime. When people found a chance to express their love and dedication for their country, they used many ways and media to do so. Photography is one of these media. Many young people who participated in the revolution captured these precious feelings. In one of the photos in the exhibition, an old woman raises her hand. The background is blurred, which puts more emphasis on her. Thin wrinkles, locks of grey hair curling out from under her scarf and the scarf itself contain the three colours of the Egyptian flag. They are significantly highlighted in the photo. Mounir el-Shazli, who took this photo and who is also a member of the jury, says that the story behind his photo is quite funny. The old woman turned out to be the aunt of one of his friends. She didn't allow the younger members of her family to go to Al Tahrir Square and participate in the revolution. But she herself went there, without the knowledge of her family. All what she was capable of doing, due to her advanced age, was to raise her hands and chant the well-known slogan ‘The People Want to Overthrow the Regime'. Egyptians infected with the HIV/AIDS virus have always been stigmatised and discriminated against, because of society's perception and prejudices. UNAIDS hopes that the spirit of the revolution will bring dignity, justice and freedom to people with HIV and that the affected communities will put an end to stigmata, rejection and discrimination. “We should not judge people from an ethical perspective because we are all humans, and we should not play the role of the Creator,” actress Menna Shalabi, the UNAIDS Egypt Goodwill Ambassador, said. “Breaking the barrier of fear is very important for people living with this disease. It is a step towards being cured and eliminating the stigma,” she added. A great ray of hope appeared at the end of the forum. One of the participants handed in a note, stating that he was ready to introduce himself to the audience and panel as an HIV patient, without any fear of stigmatisation or rejection. The panel and the audience started clapping enthusiastically; they felt that change was coming and they were willing to wait for it.
