Representatives of Bogotá and Medellín joined the UNAIDS Hands up for #HIVprevention campaign during the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, which was held in Bogotá, Colombia, from 12 to 15 October. While participating in a side event entitled HIV and Cities: a Contribution to Healthy and Inclusive Societies, they also discussed what needs to be done to strengthen HIV prevention in urban settings. 

The session identified innovative strategies to address the social and urban determinants of the HIV epidemic and to prevent new HIV infections through community-based services in cities. For example, the city of Medellín supports youth-friendly centres that provide a comprehensive package of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services. The city of Bogotá, for its part, has held since 2013 an HIV testing campaign targeting key populations and other people affected by HIV.

The participants agreed that cities will play a critical role in accelerating the HIV response and ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. They underscored that adopting a Fast-Track response to HIV offers a platform to address other public health challenges, including sexual and reproductive health, maternal health and gender-based violence.

UNAIDS, UN-Habitat and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care have supported the Fast-Track cities initiative since 2014. The initiative is aimed at engaging mayors and other urban leaders to accelerate the HIV response. Working together, cities can take local actions for global impact.

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UNAIDS and Globo have partnered in Brazil to launch an original series for the Internet called Eu Só Quero Amar (All I Want is Love). The web series focuses on Henrique and Camila, a young serodiscordant couple who decide to fight for their relationship despite the obstacles in their way, including stigma and discrimination.

The web series—a spin-off of the TV series Malhação: Seu Lugar no Mundo (Malhação: Your Place in the World), which airs every weekday to an estimated daily audience of 20 million people—is comprised of five episodes, to be released each Saturday during April.

Mixing fiction and documentary elements, the series will tell the stories of young serodiscordant couples, in which one member is living with HIV and the other is not. The aim of the web series is to reach out to a young audience and deepen the debate on social life and relationships among serodiscordant couples, showcasing not only the social challenges they face but also the possibilities for people who want to enjoy a healthy and well-informed sexuality with their HIV-positive partners.

As part of the partnership with Globo, UNAIDS is providing advice for the AIDS-related scenes, supporting the author, screenwriters and producers in fine-tuning language and terminology, and contributing ideas for new topics, scenes and real stories that can add value to dialogues and characters.

Globo is the largest media group in Brazil and owner of one of the world’s most influent TV channels in terms of audience. More than 91 million people, just under half the country’s population, tune in to it every day. In recent years, Globo has started to invest in its Internet branch, Gshow, through which original web series and spin-offs of its soap operas are helping the cannel to strengthen its outreach.

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UNAIDS has appointed CNN news anchor Alejandra Oraa as a UNAIDS Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean. The announcement was made on the occasion of World Health Day 2016.

In her new role, Ms Oraa will work towards promoting an integral approach to HIV based on human rights, as part of the health agenda for women and youth, and will raise public awareness and understanding of gender inequality.

During the coming year, Ms Oraa will visit several countries in the region, where she will have the opportunity to hear about best practices and lessons learned from the HIV response, especially with regard to women and girls.

Alejandra Oraa, born in Vargas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is anchor of Café CNN, a morning news programme on CNN in Spanish broadcast from Atlanta, United States of America, and Destinos CNN, a weekly TV programme on the world’s most popular tourist destinations. 

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Transgender people often face violence, unemployment and poverty, owing to ignorance and prejudice. Such stigma and discrimination places transgender women at a higher risk of HIV infection.

All people are equal and no one should be discriminated for any reason. “In our country it will take a lot to make this affirmation a reality,” the Peru’s Ombudsman Eduardo Vega Luna said in response to the situation. However, he called for “more awareness campaigns that encourage citizens to look at the future with hope and without violence and discrimination.”

One such activity was recently organized by United Nations organizations in Peru, including UNAIDS, UNDP, OHCHR and United Nations Information Centre, and civil society organizations, like PROMSEX, IESSDEH, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society of the Cayetano Heredia University, transgender people, the Magnum Foundation and the European Union. An exhibition, “Yo tengo derechos”, meaning “I have rights”, presented photographs taken by Danielle Villasana, an award-winning photojournalist whose work focuses on gender, identity, health and social politics. A recent graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, she has worked with transgender communities since 2012.

The photographs in the exhibition—part of the United Nations Free and Equal campaign, which advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality—showed transgender people with their colleagues and family members in their daily lives as students, artists, professionals and activists. In their testimonies for the exhibition, transgender people spoke about happiness, love and how they cope with daily struggles.

María del Carmen Sacasa, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Peru, said, “For us, the main human rights theme is non-discrimination. It’s not a minor issue, particularly when it comes to transgender people, who are rejected in many fields.”

The exhibition reminded people of one of the main human rights principles: discrimination is unacceptable. 

Israel is an indigenous community leader living in Veracruz, Panama City. He was diagnosed with HIV 7 years ago, when he was 24. At that time, Israel had no knowledge of HIV. “I thought I would die soon after and I wouldn't see my children grow up,” he said.

Israel looked for support and started to get involved with local civil society organizations advocating for improved sexual and reproductive health for young people and promoting the human rights of key populations. He became an active member of Genesis+ Panama, bringing to the organization the voice of indigenous people.

“Indigenous youth continue to encounter significant barriers in accessing comprehensive sexuality education and services in our language and according to our own practices and model of well-being,” Israel said. “This is a missed opportunity, since our communities can contribute to the HIV response and the development of our society.”

HIV among indigenous populations is an emerging public health concern, as data show that indigenous people are particularly vulnerable to HIV. The government reports that indigenous people have little knowledge of how HIV is transmitted, negative attitudes towards people living with HIV and low HIV testing rates. Reporting on indigenous people’s rights, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean found that more indigenous girls initiate sexual activity before the age of 15 than their non-indigenous peers. The rate of teenage pregnancies is more than twice as high for indigenous girls. Another matter of concern is that violence against women, which has links to HIV infection, is prevalent among indigenous populations in Panama. 

Israel works hard to change the situation in his community. He organizes meetings with indigenous young people and teenagers, either at a home or the beach, to discuss health and other important topics. “I want to give my children and other young people access to information and tools to prevent HIV,” he said.

Israel also coordinates a football team of young indigenous women. Each weekend the team participates in local leagues. Before the games start, Israel and the other coaches provide the players with training related to HIV prevention. He said, “There are many young people at risk in my community and I feel that by leveraging the power of football we are creating opportunities to improve their well-being and strengthen social capital.”

Israel also dedicates his time to raising awareness about respect and solidarity towards key populations and people living with HIV. “In indigenous communities, myths still persist around HIV,” he said. “The fear of being excluded or rejected prevents people from taking an HIV test or going to health facilities.”

Reflecting on what he has learned since his diagnosis, Israel said, “HIV has not limited me. It opened my eyes to social justice and motivated me to become the person I am today.”

Edith Tristán is a Panamanian woman who has been living with HIV for more than two decades. When she was diagnosed HIV-positive, antiretroviral therapy wasn't available in Panama and both her husband and son died of AIDS.

“It was a very difficult time, especially because of the lack of information about HIV,” Ms Tristán said. “My neighbours avoided me. At that time I ran a small food store and people would not buy from me. I struggled to support my mom and daughter with my job.”

Ms Tristán was one of the first people with HIV in the late 1990s to talk openly in Panamanian media about HIV and advocate for improved living conditions. “I started going to health institutions, looking for other people who were in my situation, to provide and receive support,” she said.

She then approached  PROBIDSIDA, one of the first organizations in the country to promote and defend the human rights of people living with and affected by HIV. Later on she was named the focal point in Panama for the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS.

Ms Tristán is now a well-known human rights defender. Since 2011, she works as an HIV Counsellor in the Specialized Unit of the Ombudsman’s Office. One of her main duties is to handle complaints of women living with HIV. “Women are still stigmatized and discriminated at work, at home by their partners and at health care centres,” Ms Tristán said. “In 2015 I have followed up on six cases of women living with HIV whose human rights were violated and haven’t resolved any of them.”      

Panama has a concentrated HIV epidemic, with a low HIV prevalence rate in the general population but a markedly higher prevalence rate in key populations such as transgender women and men who have sex with men. Nevertheless, the number of new HIV infections among women over 15 years old has been increasing.

In Latin America, the vulnerability of women to HIV infection is associated with barriers they face. These include accessing information about HIV transmission, making decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, accessing testing and treatment services and obtaining the economic and social autonomy to protect themselves from violence. The risk of being infected with HIV is even higher for women who are victims of domestic violence.

Ms Tristán stressed, “The main problem is the lack of women’s empowerment. Fear limits their decision-making power. Women need to build up their self-esteem. With self-esteem a woman can defend her rights and seek information and help.”

To increase women’s empowerment, Ms Tristán coordinates a self-help group in Panama City and maintains regular contact with women living with HIV from around the country. Part of her job at the Ombudsman’s Office is to monitor clinics and pharmacies to check the quality of health care and services, visit antiretroviral therapy clinics and carry out home visits to talk with women and inform them about human rights, health and staying on treatment.

“When I look back, my fight has not been in vain,” Ms Tristán said. “I have taken advantage of every opportunity, not only for me but also to help others.”   

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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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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During an official visit to Argentina from 9 to 11 September, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé stressed the importance of keeping human rights issues on the political agenda. He also noted how the AIDS response can be used as a platform to promote social inclusion and the rights of the most marginalized populations.

Mr Sidibé met with government officials, people living with HIV and representatives of civil society and academia. He congratulated Argentina for the results achieved in advancing human rights, especially the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI).

In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage, and two years later the National Congress passed a comprehensive Gender Identity Law. Esteban Paulón, President of the LGBTI Federation of Argentina, said that, “In a region with large inequalities, we in Argentina have a moral obligation to work towards advancing the rights and equality we have achieved here beyond our borders.”  

The country has also made progress in accelerating access to antiretroviral therapy. Argentina offers treatment free of charge to all people who test positive for HIV, regardless of their CD4 count.

The Minister of Health, Daniel Gollán, expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the HIV response is sustainable and medication prices are affordable. “Health is an inalienable and essential human right. There should be no other perspective,” said Mr Gollán. “We are working hard to fight abusive pricing. Companies must be profitable, but prices cannot be impossible to pay, otherwise we deny access.”

According to Pedro Cahn, Director of the Huésped Foundation and former President of the International AIDS Society, access to health services is not enough. More needs to be done to guarantee access to social services and employment opportunities. “HIV is a health problem, but, above all, it is a social problem,” said Mr Cahn.

Patricia Pérez, President of the More Peace Less AIDS Foundation called for the promotion of a culture of peace and respect as “an efficient tool against discrimination, violence in the family and bullying, all of which have an impact on the spread of HIV.”

In Argentina, 130 000 people were living with HIV in 2014, 47% of whom had access to HIV treatment. According to the government, 30% of people living with HIV do not know their status.