Kingston, Jamaica: – Dancehall artist Ce’Cile, along with Tanya Stephens and video director Ras Kassa, talk openly about issues related to HIV and AIDS in a newly launched production: Xpress.
In partnership with UNICEF, MTV Networks International’s global multimedia HIV and AIDS prevention campaign, ‘ Staying Alive’, the multimedia global HIV and AIDS prevention campaign, launched Xpress for World AIDS Day. A co-production between ‘Staying Alive’ , MTV Brasil, MTV Latin America and Caribbean channel Tempo, Xpress will be translated in English, Spanish and Portuguese and will air globally starting on December 1.
The one-hour special sees dancehall sensations Ce’cile and Tanya Stephens give their take on gender roles, while acclaimed music video director Ras Kassa discusses the impact dancehall has on the Jamaican culture. Set against the backdrop of the vibrant dancehall scene in Jamaica, the favelas of Brazil and the violent scenes of gender violence in Juarez, North Mexico, young people, musicians, and actors across the Latin American and Caribbean region talk candidly about core issues that affect them including sexuality, homophobia, gender roles, poverty and HIV and AIDS. Ce’cile, Tanya Stevens, MV Bill, Firebug and FLU provided music for the Xpress soundtrack.
“MTV’s Staying Alive continues to provide young people with critical prevention messages on HIV. In the case of Xpress, we are able to reach key populations across Latin America and the Caribbean to engage with them and discuss what might be taboo in their communities.” – Georgia Arnold, Vice President, Public Affairs, MTV Networks International
“Xpress gives the microphone directly to young people and they express openly and creatively about how challenging it is living in a world with HIV and social problems in Latin America and the Caribbean.” – Mark Connolly, Senior Advisor, UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Launched in 1998, Staying Alive challenges stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS as well as empowers young people to protect themselves from infection. The Emmy award-winning campaign consists of documentaries, public service announcements, youth forums and multi-lingual Web content. Staying Alive provides all of its television programming rights-free and at no cost to 3rd party broadcasters globally to get crucial prevention messages out to the widest possible audience. The Staying Alive campaign is a partnership between MTV Networks International, UNAIDS, UNFPA, The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the Kaiser Family Foundation and M.A.C. AIDS Fund.
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