MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation and The Body Shop have launched the extended HIV prevention campaign Say Yes to Safe Sex last week. We have the pics of the NYC launch event with – Durex and Solange Knowles.

The Body Shop and Solange Knowles launched the campaign coupled with free in store Durex condom hand outs as part of the global HIV/AIDS safe sex campaign in conjunction with MTV Networks. To get lips moving about this vital issue, The Body Shop now sells their “Tantalizing Lip Butter” to help raise funds for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

Approximately $5 from every purchase of the fruity lip butter will benefit the Staying Alive Foundation, a charity empowering young people around the world to protect themselves and their communities against HIV and AIDS.

To make sure the campaign reaches as many people as possible they have now opened the dedicated interactive site www.yestosafesex.com to involve visitors and encourage them to share the word (through facebook in particular as it seems).

“We felt it was imperative to encourage a discussion on safe sex even it meant causing a bit of a commotion. We hope this campaign educates consumers on the importance of safe sex and knowing your status”, stated Phil Kowalczyk, President of The Body Shop Americas.

Durex on their part are giving away free condoms (until the supply runs out) with every purchase of the Tantalizing Lip Butter/Yes, Yes, Yes to Safe Sex Campaign product. Markets with free condoms include NY, San Francisco, Chicago, Phoenix, Seattle and Toronto.

With campaigns like this MTV and The Body Shop have raised more than $2 million for the Staying Alive Foundation over the last two years. This funding has provided grants to young people to work on HIV prevention efforts amongst their peers at a grass-root level.

Launch Party in NYC – Solange up front

In front of NYC Store

Body Shop Team with the Naked Cowboy

See the rest of the pictures in our flickr account.

And if we learn anything from this, then HIV is still deadly and on the rise. With research showing over 3,000 new HIV infections daily among young adults ages 15-24, the campaign is designed to target young people taking risks with their own health and that of their sexual partners.

Product Image Copyright 2009 The Body Shop International Plc.