ViiV Healthcare and Shutterstock Studios have united to address the outdated perception of HIV in “HIV in View”

To commemorate this week’s World AIDS Day, ViiV Healthcare and Shutterstock Studios have partnered to launch an online photo gallery, HIV in View, created to change the world’s perception of HIV and break away from outdated stereotypes.

The collection has been carefully selected with the support of people living with HIV, is freely accessible and available to everyone in projects, campaigns and communications, and still exists as people living with HIV live longer and become healthier. I hope to break the stigma. It is alive.

Media representation is becoming an increasingly important topic in today’s world, but these conversations need to be extended to include characteristics that transcend race and gender.

The gallery, which depicts people living with HIV around the world, is experiencing a surge in demand for genuine, fresh content as media and marketing communications seek to promote diversity and inclusion in modern society.

In four countries (UK, Kenya, Uruguay and Portugal), people living with HIV will be one of the first people photographed in this gallery, changing the world’s perception of HIV and breaking away from outdated stereotypes. We embarked on a common ambition. .. Starting with World AIDS Day 2020, the gallery hopes that anyone will have free access to and use projects, campaigns and communications *, raise awareness of HIV and break down barriers to existing stigma. ..

28-year-old Doreen Moracha from Nairobi, Kenya, was one of the first photographers to be photographed at the gallery and HIV Advocate, saying: To be part of the movement for real people living with HIV, the changes that represent their stories and experiences. Until the world understands what HIV really is, we cannot make the progress needed to break the stereotype of living with HIV. If my picture can change one’s view of the implications of living with HIV today, we know we are one step closer to achieving this goal. “

Living with HIV today is a very different experience than it was just 10 years ago. Advances in prevention, treatment and care have allowed people living with HIV to live longer and healthier lives, and those starting treatment at the age of 20 can now expect their 77th birthday. It was.[1] Despite these advances, people living with HIV face unique challenges that affect their daily quality of life. Stigma is a stubborn and lasting threat to the health and well-being of many people living with HIV, often affecting their ability to consistently access life-saving treatments and social support systems.[2] In the fight to challenge negative assumptions about HIV, shedding light on the truth can be a powerful strategy. Sharing the true picture and experience of people living with HIV is the key to undermining stigma.

Deborah Waterhouse, CEO of ViiV Healthcare, said: “The mission of ViiV Healthcare is not to leave people living with HIV, but to reduce HIV-related stigma is the key to achieving this. For too long, the general public will live with HIV. Has been presented with an outdated expression of what is. In collaboration with Shutterstock, it was emphasized that the lack of current, widely accessible HIV images continues to curb us. With the launch of the gallery, people all over the world can now download real photos for free. As a company, we promise to use images of real people living with HIV on all platforms, if applicable, and encourage others to do the same. Living with HIV has changed, and we invite the world to help show this. ”

Michael Carfagnini of GM Global Shutterstock Studios said: There is always a need for genuine, fresh images that accurately describe what it is like to live with HIV. At Shutterstock, we strive to empower storytellers around the world through content and services that allow brands and agencies to tell their own stories, including content and services offered through the new studio division. This is the effectiveness of a global network of contributors whose mission is to safely portray this important story at times when it is much more difficult to take pictures and videos in pandemic-restricting productions around the world. It provided an opportunity to prove adaptability. This project and the various teams involved in both Shutterstock and ViiV Healthcare have truly demonstrated the impact of passion on creative projects. The images showed the same quality from contributors and people living with HIV. “

The “HIV in View” gallery was created by Shutterstock and in collaboration with ViiV Healthcare.You can download all images Royalty-free here