Oxfam Global Ambassador Annie Lennox launches charity single for World AIDS Day

Today, on World AIDS Day, Oxfam Global Ambassador Annie Lennox is launching SING, a new charity single calling on women to 'sing out' around the issues of HIV and AIDS.

Featuring the vocal talents of 23 major female artists, including Angelique Kidjo, Madonna, Melissa Etheridge, Dido, Pink, Shakira, Fergie and Céline Dion, the single is aimed at raising international awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS in South Africa, particularly the epidemic's toll on women and children.

Money raised by the single will go to South African HIV and AIDS organization Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). Oxfam has partnered with TAC for a number of years, helping to fund the program and has an ongoing strategic alliance – supporting workshops and the production of media around issues related to HIV and AIDS.

"I've seen the devastating effects that HIV and AIDS has on families and communities, and I know we won't overcome poverty unless we win the fight against AIDS," said Annie Lennox. "That's why I'm working with organizations like Oxfam to demand that rich and poor country government's live up to their promises and deliver healthcare for everyone, especially women. I've written a song, called SING, about the AIDS crisis – watch it today and be part of the fight against AIDS."

Featured on the single are the members of TAC's choir The Generics, whose 2001 song on preventing mother-to-child transmission, Jikelele, provides the outro to SING. TAC has become the leading civil society force behind HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care in South Africa.  Since its inception in 1998, TAC has held government accountable, campaigned against official aids denialism, challenged the world's leading pharmaceutical companies to make treatment more affordable and cultivated community leadership on HIV and AIDS.

Oxfam works directly with people affected by HIV and AIDS, with organizations such as TAC. Oxfam also lobbies for change through campaigns such as Health and Education for All, pressing governments and other donors to provide the $10 billion a year needed for universal HIV and AIDS prevention work, treatment and care.