PUNE: Wake Up Pune, an initiative that includes NGOs, corporates, youth networks and individuals organised events and rallies in the city to mark the International Candlelight Memorial Day in the memory of those who have passed away due to AIDS and in honour of those who are fighting the stigma of HIV/AIDS on Sunday.

Coordinator of Wake Up Pune, Emeline Rougeaux said that during the day they had set up live installations depicting the ‘stigma chakra.’

“We had people sitting in a group with black strips of cloth across their eyes and mouths and hand tied with ropes to signify the ignorance and discrimination that a person infected with HIV goes through,” she said.

Some volunteers held placards that read ‘break the silence, set us free’ while others distributed material explaining HIV/AIDS. This was carried out at M G Road, Kalyani Nagar, Tadiwala Road and Deccan Gymkhana.

In the evening, a silent march that included NGOs working in HIV/AIDS was organised from Sassoon Hospital’s ART centre and Golibar Maidan to M G Road.

A candlelight vigil was observed at Aurora Towers followed by speeches made by the members of the NGOs. “Today was all about silent and shocking images,” said Rougeaux.