Award-winning photographers offer a new vision on HIV and AIDS

17 European photographers demonstrate how “Life Begins Today” and lead fight against discrimination and stigma for those affected by HIV/AIDS

The 2006 One Vision Photography Competition Awards Ceremony

London, England, June 28, 2006 – HIV advocates, photojournalists and international media gathered today in London to announce this year’s winners of the 3rd Annual “One Vision” European Photography Competition, an initiative sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. In the UK, the competition is backed by the National AIDS Trust and the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS.

By focusing their cameras on HIV and AIDS, both professional and non-professional photographers across Europe were invited to help combat the stigma and discrimination felt by those affected by the disease.

"Although improved treatments mean that most people living with HIV in Europe can lead full and active lives, the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV persists – often making it difficult for people living with HIV to be open about their diagnosis," said Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust. "Images can often be more powerful than words in shaping people's attitudes and we hope that the powerful and positive images created for the One Vision competition will help breakdown the prejudices and stereotypes that still exist."

According to UNAIDS, stigma and discrimination associated with HIV have proven to be among the most difficult obstacles to HIV prevention. An objective of One Vision is to raise overall awareness of the disease, and the competition has been drawing an increasing number of quality images depicting the way people are living with HIV and AIDS today. The competition is now in its third year of existence. Entries for 2006 more than doubled from last year, with over 1,300 photographs received from 25 countries. With 262 entries, the UK had the highest number of entrants for any one country.

David Gillanders won the UK first prize in the professional category with his picture “Bogdan” while Izak Fick won the UK first prize in the non-professional category for his “Transcendent Life.”

“The winning entries not only have artistic merit and creative focus,” declared Robert Taylor, Chairman of the 2006 European Panel of Judges, “but they also display this year’s One Vision theme of ‘Life Begins Today’ – with a sense of hope, a future, an energy, which was a joy to see.”

Fabrice Chouraqui, Head of Specialty Care at Bristol-Myers Squibb stated, “One Vision is enabling those who care about HIV to send a message that people with HIV and AIDS can now live a full life and should be able to do so without stigma or discrimination. There is still much to be done in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and we will continue to do our part through research and development of innovative HIV/AIDS treatments, and collaboration with government, academic and non-governmental organisations on initiatives such as One Vision.”

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

For further information on One Vision, please visit – www.onevision2006.org