“The DGS rejects discrimination for any reason, including sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, or others,” according to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, stated the health authority to agency Lusa.
At issue is a publication that the DGS made today on its social networks of an image provided by UNAIDS, as part of the International Day Against AIDS, which features three black individuals raising their arms with the phrase “AIDS is not over,” drawing various negative comments.
“On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the DGS today shared an image produced and provided by UNAIDS for the International Day Against AIDS, duly translated into Portuguese. This was shared with community partners and some also disseminated it,” it added.
During the day, the DGS replaced the image it published with the original UNAIDS post bearing the same message, but in English (AIDS is not over), claiming that it intended to enhance the awareness of the message and its origin, “always in full respect of human rights.”
According to the DGS, the campaign image aims to raise awareness that AIDS “is not over and there is a path to be taken worldwide to mitigate risks and achieve” the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending AIDS by 2030.
