Richard Gere showcased a documentary about Ukrainian youth living with HIV.
The premiere of the film "Eyes on Ukraine," which focuses on young Ukrainians living with HIV, took place at the UN headquarters in Bonn. The film was produced by American actor Richard Gere, as reported by UNN citing Deutsche Welle.
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The documentary "Eyes on Ukraine" premiered at the UN headquarters in Bonn ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1.
According to reports, the film features the stories of several young Ukrainians living with HIV. They came together under the project Teenergizer to use photographic art to share their diagnosis, overcome psychological challenges, and combat stigma.
The main character of the film is 26-year-old Teenergizer founder Yana Panfilova. Born in Kyiv, she was infected with HIV at birth. Yana's mother shared that until 2004, there was no unified HIV treatment program in Ukraine, and individuals had to manage their condition on their own. Once, the parents of a classmate, whom Yana visited, called her to complain that the entire family now had to be tested for the virus.
According to Yana, the war has worsened the situation for those infected in Ukraine: hospitals have been destroyed, and people with HIV in occupied territories are denied treatment if they do not have a Russian passport.
In a video message to viewers, executive producer Richard Gere stated that there are around 260,000 people living with HIV in Ukraine. "Thousands of them have fled the country and are living as refugees, yet they continue to need treatment and support," the actor said. He called for a "just end to this insane war" and for "the right of people with HIV to live freely without stigma."