Press release and statement archive

The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) has called on UNAIDS to fully implement the management response (UNAIDS agenda for change) to address harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power, at the UNAIDS Secretariat which was presented to Board members by the Executive Director of UNAIDS on Tuesday 11...

Health is everyone’s concern. The world has been striving for access to quality and affordable health services since the Declaration of Alma-Ata, which called for health for all more than 40 years ago.

UNAIDS condemns the rapes of 150 women and girls while collecting food for their families near Bentiu, a government-controlled area in South Sudan, during a 10-day period in November.

UNAIDS outlines five key components for action that build on recommendations made by an Independent Expert Panel

Violence against women remains one of the most persistent violations of human rights across the globe, undermining the health, dignity, security and autonomy of women and girls. Women who have been physically or sexually abused by their partners report higher rates of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, higher...

A little over one week before World AIDS Day, UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Victoria Beckham has visited the organization’s Geneva, Switzerland, headquarters to support calls for people to know their HIV status and to seek treatment for HIV if necessary.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first World AIDS Day. Thirty years of activism and solidarity under the banner of World AIDS Day. Thirty years of campaigning for universal access to life-saving services to treat and prevent HIV. But after 30 years, AIDS is still not over. We...

A new report from UNAIDS shows that intensified HIV testing and treatment efforts are reaching more people living with HIV. In 2017, three quarters of people living with HIV (75%) knew their HIV status, compared to just two thirds (67%) in 2015, and 21.7 million people living with HIV (59%)...

Ahead of World AIDS Day, which takes place on 1 December, UNAIDS is releasing a series of virtual reality (VR) films focused on HIV testing.

The President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, visited UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 25 October 2018 to share Botswana’s vision on a key public health concern: HIV.

The Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and the First Lady of Lesotho, Maesaiah Thabane, visited UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to advocate for the end of AIDS and reduce its impact on young people.

The President of the Central African Republic visited UNAIDS to discuss ongoing efforts to rebuild his country, advance national reconciliation and deliver basic services for the populations after decades of political instability and conflict.

Eleven heads of the world’s leading health and development organizations today signed a landmark commitment to find new ways of working together to accelerate progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

New initiative launched to engage the military and other uniformed personnel in HIV awareness, prevention and treatment and eliminate sexual and gender-based violence by defence and security forces

UNAIDS, the Chair of the H6 partnership (six United Nations bodies working on health-related issues), and the African Union have pledged to enhance their collaboration to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence, prevent HIV and protect women’s health and rights in humanitarian settings.

UNAIDS welcomes the decision by its third largest donor, the Netherlands, to increase its funding to UNAIDS by more than 20%. The Netherlands will provide US$ 23.3 million in core funding in 2018, compared to US$ 19.2 million in 2017.

UNAIDS welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of India to annul key provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 377 criminalizes sexual relations between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

UNAIDS welcomes the appointment of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as the United Nations new human rights chief.

UNAIDS welcomes new survey data showing that 77% of all adults living with HIV in Namibia are virally suppressed. The Namibia Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (NAMPHIA) survey included 24 000 people from 0–64 years old. Participants were offered HIV counselling and testing as well as linkage to care and treatment...

Prosecutions of people living with HIV for acts that pose no risk of HIV exposure or transmission prompt scientists to issue a statement urging the criminal justice system to use science when considering prosecution of HIV non-disclosure, exposure or transmission

New HIV infections are rising in around 50 countries, AIDS-related deaths are not falling fast enough and flat resources are threatening success. Half of all new HIV infections are among key populations and their partners, who are still not getting the services they need

UNAIDS warns that countries urgently need to take proven, tailored, evidence-informed primary HIV prevention programmes to scale in addition to increasing access to treatment.

Following the call by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, for an external high-level independent panel to provide recommendations to UNAIDS to further strengthen implementation of its zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment, the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board agreed to create an Independent Expert Panel.

Donor government disbursements to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries increased by 16%, from US$ 7 billion in 2016 to US$ 8.1 billion in 2017, although the higher total stems largely from the timing of funding from the United States of America and is not expected to last, a...

Board members back measures for UNAIDS to inspire United Nations reform in ensuring the highest standards of integrity and dignity at work and encourage all countries to close the funding gap in the global HIV response, including fully funding UNAIDS.

UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by the Government of Australia confirming an additional AUD 1.3 million (almost US$ 1 million) for the AIDS response. The additional funding, announced at the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board meeting on 26 June 2018, will be used to scale up HIV prevention in Cambodia, Indonesia, the...

UNAIDS expresses its sincere appreciation to Denmark for its long-standing support and welcomes its decision to increase its core contributions to UNAIDS. Denmark will increase its contribution to UNAIDS to US$ 6.5 million in 2018 (from 30 million kroner in 2017 to 40 million kroner in 2018).

United Nations Secretary-General presents his report on HIV as United Nations General Assembly meets to review progress towards ending AIDS

UNAIDS has launched its new Gender Action Plan for 2018–2023. The plan builds on the progress achieved under the 2013–2018 plan, which provided a framework to advance gender equality and empower women across the UNAIDS Secretariat.

On HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, 18 May, UNAIDS is calling for an increase in research and investment to find an effective vaccine to protect people against HIV and stop new HIV infections. In 2016, around 1.8 million people were newly infected with HIV and although the number of new infections...

On the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), UNAIDS is calling for strengthened partnerships to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and their families living with or affected by HIV or facing discrimination.

The bill is transformational for transgender people who, in the past, either had to live with formal identification papers which did not accurately reflect their gender or go without identity papers.

During my recent visit to South Africa, I listened carefully to you, I heard you. The HIV epidemic is inextricably linked to sexual and gender-based violence and the two can never be separated. We need the passion of advocates to move issues forward.

The scope and nature of the work of the Independent Expert Panel on prevention of and response to harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power at the UNAIDS Secretariat has been decided upon by the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) Bureau following consultations with the three constituencies of...

Ahead of World TB Day 2018, UNAIDS is calling on all partners to take unprecedented and bold action to advance efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) and AIDS by 2030.

UNAIDS recognizes that the overarching purpose of drug control is first and foremost to ensure the health, well-being and security of individuals, while respecting their human rights at all times. People who use and inject drugs are among the groups at highest risk of exposure to HIV, but remain marginalized...

On International Women’s Day, the world is celebrating the power of women’s organizations and activists to advance women’s right to health, gender quality and women’s empowerment. Women’s empowerment and leadership is critical to ensuring success across all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNAIDS welcomes mid-way results from two studies that show that a vaginal ring releasing long-acting antiretroviral medicine to prevent HIV is up to 54% effective in preventing HIV infections among women. The ring, which is replaced monthly, slowly releases the antiretroviral medicine dapivirine and could give women an additional HIV...

Discrimination is often based on misinformation or fear of the unknown. By reflecting on people in everyday situations, on Zero Discrimination Day, 1 March, UNAIDS is challenging people to recognize where everyday discrimination takes place and to take action to stop it.

UNAIDS has received its first presidential visit. The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, visited UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27 February 2018 to discuss the response to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria with Geneva-based global health leaders.

UNAIDS’ Deputy Executive Director, Programme, Luiz Loures, has communicated his wish to the UNAIDS Executive Director not to seek the renewal of his position.

UNAIDS has a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment, with clear guidelines and procedures to address allegations and complaints. The organization is committed to having a safe and enabling working environment for its staff.