The First Lady of Panama, Lorena Castillo de Varela, has been named as a UNAIDS Special Ambassador for AIDS in Latin America. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé appointed her during a visit to Panama, noting her commitment to expanding HIV testing coverage and bringing services closer to people. More than 15 000 people were tested for HIV in June 2015 as part of the Tests Save Lives campaign, which was led by the First Lady and the Ministry of Health.

The ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace on 16 November with the participation of President Juan Carlos Varela, Vice-President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado and Minister of Health Francisco Terrientes. The dignitaries, along with the First Lady, reaffirmed their commitment to Fast-Track the AIDS response and work towards ending the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

Panama has made important progress in the AIDS response. HIV prevalence was 0.6% in 2014, with an estimated 53% of adults living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Mr Sidibé lauded Panama’s efforts and noted that the country is in a position to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. These figures hide large disparities by geographic region and population group, however. For example, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men was 7.7% in 2014.

Mr Sidibé said that social issues that increase vulnerabilities need to be addressed and that improved comprehensive sexuality education can have a significant impact on reducing new HIV infections. He also encouraged increasing sustainable funding to civil society organizations working on HIV and on human rights issues related to the epidemic.

The government agreed that it is important to include vulnerable and marginalized people in the AIDS response. Nationwide there are six primary health centres for key populations, such as men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender people. An additional three centres will open soon. The clinics focus on the unique needs of the clients, provide accessible health care and offer HIV testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

While in Panama, Mr Sidibé also met with representatives of civil society, applauding their role in advocating for the adoption of a legal framework for the HIV response.

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UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Victoria Beckham was honoured on 9 November as one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year 2015 for her fashion design work, business acumen and philanthropic work on HIV.

As an International Goodwill Ambassador, Ms Beckham is collaborating with UNAIDS to raise awareness around HIV, particularly around the importance of empowering young women and girls, who continue to be disproportionally affected by the epidemic.

Ms Beckham recently undertook a joint field mission to Ethiopia with the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, to learn more about the progress and challenges in preventing new HIV infections and ensuring access to antiretroviral therapy. During the visit she met with young women and girls living with and affected by HIV and was moved by their stories. Ms Beckham reiterated her commitment to speak out for the voiceless and call for the empowerment of women everywhere.

Ms Beckham will continue her advocacy work with UNAIDS and plans to launch a series of initiatives in support of this year’s World AIDS Day, which is marked every year on 1 December.

UNAIDS is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Joel Nana, the founding Executive Director of African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) and a former member of the NGO delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board. He was 33 years old.

Mr Nana, a tireless advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, was AMSHeR’s Executive Director from 2009 to 2014. Under his leadership, the regional network of organizations worked to advance the health and human rights of gay men and other men who have sex with men in Africa. The coalition became a strong voice and partner in the quest for protection and access to HIV and other health services for this population.

A law graduate, Mr Nana recognized the power of bodies such as the African Commission in interpreting and creating norms for the protection of minorities. He championed AMSHeR’s engagement with institutions such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which in May 2014 adopted its first resolution on "Protection against violence and other human rights violations against persons on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity". A year later, the Commission granted observer status to the Coalition of African Lesbians.

“Joel was a shooting star, a passionate advocate whose energy and commitment to the health and human rights of LGBTI people have touched many, particularly in Africa,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “Let’s remember him for his contribution to ensuring the HIV response leaves no one behind.”

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, STOPAIDS and actor Colin Farrell hosted a gathering at the Elizabeth Taylor Grit and Glamour exhibition at the Getty Images Gallery in London, United Kingdom, to announce their commitment to the UNAIDS Fast-Track approach to achieve the 90–90–90 treatment target in Malawi’s Mulanje District.

The Mulanje District has been particularly affected by HIV and despite the efforts of health-care workers and the Malawi Ministry of Health, health services in the district remain weak. According to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, adult HIV prevalence is around 17% and approximately 70 000 people in the district are living with HIV, making it one of the most affected regions in the world.

Recognizing the need to bring health services closer to people in remote areas of Malawi, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation has been working in the Mulanje District since 2004 and has established seven mobile health clinics that provide HIV prevention and testing services.

Every day, the seven clinics rotate to a new location. The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation estimates that an average of 1000 patients were seen every day in 2014—40% were children under the age of five. Furthermore, it estimates that every one of the 900 000 residents in Malawi’s Phalombe and Mulanje Districts now lives within an hour’s walk to life-sustaining health-care services—an important achievement, especially given the country’s challenging road infrastructure.

At the event in London, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation called for more partners to join and form a new wave of mutually reinforcing strategies to achieve the UNAIDS 90–90–90 treatment target in Mulanje District under the leadership of the District Health Office.

The Elizabeth Taylor Grit and Glamour photo exhibition served as the backdrop at the event, featuring images that spanned decades of her career as an actress and activist. Actor Colin Farrell opened the evening by welcoming guests and honouring the late Elizabeth Taylor.

Speakers included Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, First Minister of Scotland 2001–2007, and architect of the Scotland–Malawi Co-operation Agreement, and Joel Goldman, Managing Director, of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, who urged support for additional funding to scale up HIV prevention, testing and treatment programmes in the Mulanje District.

Singer/songwriter and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Annie Lennox closed the event, thanking the organizations in the room for their commitment to achieving the UNAIDS 90–90–90 treatment target in Malawi. 

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UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Victoria Beckham have completed a joint visit to Ethiopia to increase awareness about HIV and to underline the need to accelerate the international response to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

At the start of their visit, Mr Sidibé and Ms Beckham went to the Alem Children Support Organization, a privately run centre that provides assistance to orphans and underprivileged children affected by HIV, enabling them to access health-care services and attend school.

On the second day, they travelled to the ALERT hospital in Addis Ababa and met mothers, babies and children affected by HIV. During the visit, they also attended a youth group meeting, at which young people come together to lend each other mutual support.

Later, Mr Sidibé and Ms Beckham spent the afternoon at Entoto Beth Artisan, a local business that employs around 120 women living with HIV to make leather goods and traditional jewellery.

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UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Victoria Beckham has been awarded the Fashion 4 Development Award for her work with UNAIDS and her commitment to make change happen by raising awareness on HIV.

As part of an official mission to New York in her role as Goodwill Ambassador, she, along with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle, participated in the Fashion 4 Development annual First Ladies Luncheon on 28 September, during which the award was made. Bringing together the world of fashion, First Ladies and business and global change-makers, the event, founded by Evie Evangelou, connects people and communities for positive change.

On 27 September, Ms Beckham took part in the opening of the Social Good Summit. Held on the sidelines of the seventieth session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the summit examined the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world. Ms Beckham spoke on Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which promotes good health and well-being for all, and underlined how the empowerment of women will be an important tool for achieving the SDG target of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Other prominent figures attending the summit included Graca Machel, Queen Rania of Jordan and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, Amina Mohammed.

Ms Beckham also had a number of meetings with UNAIDS and partners while in New York, including an emotional encounter with 12-year-old Elijah Zacchary and his family, who shared his personal story of a young person living with HIV.

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A multimedia campaign led by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation in conjunction with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PEPFAR, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, UNICEF and UNFPA has prompted more than 47 000 young people to seek HIV testing and counselling services in Nigeria.

An educational initiative, On Tour with MTV Shuga—created around the award-winning drama series MTV Shuga—trained 160 Nigerian peer educators to facilitate HIV testing and to spread information and positive messaging based on the show in their communities. Of the more than 47 000 young Nigerians who were tested for HIV, 688 were found to be HIV-positive and were referred for HIV treatment.

Since its launch in 2009, MTV Shuga—a modern day drama about love, sex and relationships among Nigerian youth—has reached up to 550 million people worldwide, while 40 million people have been reached via social media. A total of 122 broadcasters are currently lined up to air the new season IV of the show. Among the topics covered in the new season are first sex, grooming of adolescent girls, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, disclosure of HIV status, sexual assault within a relationship, stigma, mentoring and the use of helplines.

United Nations entities call on States to act urgently to end violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI)[1] adults, adolescents and children.

All people have an equal right to live free from violence, persecution, discrimination and stigma. International human rights law establishes legal obligations on States to ensure that every person, without distinction, can enjoy these rights. While welcoming increasing efforts in many countries to protect the rights of LGBTI people, we remain seriously concerned that around the world, millions of LGBTI individuals, those perceived as LGBTI and their families face widespread human rights violations. This is cause for alarm – and action.

Failure to uphold the human rights of LGBTI people and protect them against abuses such as violence and discriminatory laws and practices, constitute serious violations of international human rights law and have a far-reaching impact on society – contributing to increased vulnerability to ill health including HIV infection, social and economic exclusion, putting strain on families and communities, and impacting negatively on economic growth, decent work and progress towards achievement of the future Sustainable Development Goals. States bear the primary duty under international law to protect everyone from discrimination and violence. These violations therefore require an urgent response by governments, parliaments, judiciaries and national human rights institutions. Community, religious and political leaders, workers’ organizations, the private sector, health providers, civil society organizations and the media also have important roles to play. Human rights are universal – cultural, religious and moral practices and beliefs and social attitudes cannot be invoked to justify human rights violations against any group, including LGBTI persons.

PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS FROM VIOLENCE

States should protect LGBTI persons from violence, torture and ill-treatment, including by:

• Investigating, prosecuting and providing remedy for acts of violence, torture and ill-treatment against LGBTI adults, adolescents and children, and those who defend their human rights;
• Strengthening efforts to prevent, monitor and report such violence;
• Incorporating homophobia and transphobia as aggravating factors in laws against hate crime and hate speech;
• Recognizing that persecution of people because they are (or are perceived to be) LGBTI may constitute a valid ground for asylum, and not returning such refugees to a place where their life or freedom might be threatened.

The United Nations and others have documented widespread physical and psychological violence against LGBTI persons in all regions - including murder, assault, kidnapping, rape, sexual violence, as well as torture and ill-treatment in institutional and other setting. LGBTI youth and lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are at particular risk of physical, psychological and sexual violence in family and community settings. LGBTI persons often face violence and discrimination when seeking refuge from persecution and in humanitarian emergencies. They may also face abuse in medical settings, including unethical and harmful so-called "therapies" to change sexual orientation, forced or coercive sterilization, forced genital and anal examinations, and unnecessary surgery and treatment on intersex children without their consent. In many countries, the response to these violations is inadequate, they are underreported and often not properly investigated and prosecuted, leading to widespread impunity and lack of justice, remedies and support for victims. Human rights defenders combatting these violations are frequently persecuted and face discriminatory restrictions on their activities.

REPEALING DISCRIMINATORY LAWS

States should respect international human rights standards, including by reviewing, repealing and establishing a moratorium on the application of:

• Laws that criminalize same-sex conduct between consenting adults;
• Laws that criminalize transgender people on the basis of their gender expression;
• Other laws used to arrest, punish or discriminate against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

In 76 countries, laws still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships between adults, exposing individuals to the risk of arbitrary arrest, prosecution, imprisonment – even the death penalty, in at least five countries. Laws criminalizing cross-dressing are used to arrest and punish transgender people. Other laws are used to harass, detain, discriminate or place restrictions on the freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. These discriminatory laws contribute to perpetuating stigma and discrimination, as well as hate crime, police abuse, torture and ill-treatment, family and community violence, and negatively affect public health by impeding access to health and HIV services.

PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS FROM DISCRIMINATION

States should uphold international human rights standards on non-discrimination, including by:

• Prohibiting discrimination against LGBTI adults, adolescents and children in all contexts – including in education, employment, healthcare, housing, social protection, criminal justice and in asylum and detention settings;
• Ensuring legal recognition of the gender identity of transgender people without abusive requirements;
• Combating prejudice against LGBTI people through dialogue, public education and training;
• Ensuring that LGBTI people are consulted and participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of laws, policies and programmes that affect them, including development and humanitarian initiatives.

LGBTI people face widespread discrimination and exclusion in all contexts - including multiple forms of discrimination based on other factors such as sex, race, ethnicity, age, religion, poverty, migration, disability and health status. Children face bullying, discrimination or expulsion from schools on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, or that of their parents. LGBTI youth rejected by their families experience disproportionate levels of suicide, homelessness and food insecurity. Discrimination and violence contribute to the marginalization of LGBTI people and their vulnerability to ill health including HIV infection, yet they face denial of care, discriminatory attitudes and pathologization in medical and other settings. Transgender people are frequently denied legal recognition of their preferred gender or face abusive requirements such as forced sterilization, treatment or divorce to obtain it, without which they suffer exclusion and marginalization. The exclusion of LGBTI people from the design, implementation and monitoring of laws and policies that affect them perpetuates their social and economic marginalization.

UNITED NATIONS SUPPORT

Our organizations stand ready to support and assist Member States and other stakeholders as they work to address the challenges outlined in this statement – including through constitutional, legislative and policy changes, strengthening of national institutions, and education, training and other initiatives to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of all LGBTI people.

[1] While this statement refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, it should also be read to refer to other people who face violence and discrimination on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, including those who may identify with other terms.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Brazil’s biggest television network, Globo Television, has partnered with UNAIDS to stop new HIV infections among young people.

As part of the Live Better campaign, Globo, the second largest television network in the world, will broadcast a 30-second public service announcement promoting HIV prevention three times a day throughout September. The campaign was launched during the Saturday night show Altas Horas, which is widely watched by young people in Brazil, and will feature on its various entertainment and news shows.

The public service announcement calls on young people to open their eyes to HIV testing. It encourages young people to test for HIV and to start treatment early if necessary.

According to government estimates, the number of people newly infected with HIV increased by 11% between 2005 and 2013 in Brazil. Over the past decade, the country has seen a 50% increase in the number of new HIV infections among boys aged between 15 and 19 years.

UNAIDS Brazil Goodwill Ambassador Mateus Solano and Brazilian singer and UNAIDS supporter Wanessa Camargo are supporting the campaign through social media, on live shows and in videos.

The public service announcement will become part of the network’s film bank and will be available for use on national and local advertisement windows after September.

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