- Title: HONDURAS-KIDNAPPING-HIV Prominent AIDS activist kidnapped in Honduras
- Date: 7th January 2015
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (FILE) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF KEREN DUNAWAY AND HER MOTHER ROSA GONZALEZ AT A HOTEL FOR HER PARTICIPATION IN THE XVII INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE IN 2008 DUNAWAY IN AN INTERVIEW DUNAWAY WALKING TO THE PODIUM TO GIVE HER SPEECH AT THE AIDS CONFERENCE DUNAWAY GIVING HER SPEECH AUDIENCE APPLAUDING DUNAWAY GREETING
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE21I70IMB2MMNENTI65MCQ6LV
- Story Text: One of the most prominent AIDS activists in Latin America was kidnapped in the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Tuesday (January 6), local media reported.
Eighteen-year-old Keren Dunaway was kidnapped with her mother, Rosa Gonzalez, the director of the Llaves Foundation, an HIV and AIDS organization and a United Nations Ambassador for children with HIV.
According to local media, several masked gunmen kidnapped both women while they were traveling in a vehicle through the Altiplano neighbourhood not far from the Llaves Foundation.
Both the mother and daughter were reportedly followed by four criminals and forced from their vehicle at gunpoint.
"At this moment we only know the details that two vehicles intercepted the vehicle they were in," said police spokesman Jorge Rodriguez. "They intercept, they take her out and they put her in a red vehicle."
Gonzalez was later released, but Dunaway remained captive.
The kidnappers have yet to ask for a ransom and Gonzalez has pleaded with the captors to release her daughter because she needs to take her HIV medication, local media reported.
"Rosa (Dunaway's mother) has indicated that specifically that they be conscious that she needs antivirals to maintain her immune system intact so the she not contract infections," said Katherine Calderon, the spokesperson for the Llaves Foundation.
Dunaway has participated in several HIV/AIDS conferences.
She spoke at the opening plenary of the 17th International AIDS Conference and was part of a panel at a UNICEF satellite event last year.
She became an activist when she was only eight-years-old and has run a children's magazine and radio program in Honduras.
Dunaway has campaigned to end the stigma and discrimination towards HIV and AIDS patients and has encouraged other HIV positive young people to also speak out.
In addition to being an activist, Keren also has a passion for music and singing. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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