December

UNAIDS Executive Director outlines her vision to the UNAIDS Board

Winnie Byanyima, speaking at the first meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) since her appointment as the UNAIDS Executive Director, has outlined her priorities for 2020. Noting that, “The global response to HIV and the Joint Programme provide one of the strongest examples of the value of multilateralism and global solidarity,” she added that, “The year 2020 provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon how the Joint Programme can work even better.”

13 December 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Sri Lanka eliminates vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis

UNAIDS congratulates Sri Lanka for achieving the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis. “Sri Lanka’s remarkable achievement gives me hope and shows that change is possible. It is clear that when a country ensures that services are accessible and stigma-free for women, including for women living with or affected by HIV, results follow that benefit women’s health, their children’s health and society as a whole,” said Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director.

13 December 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS Executive Director's message on Universal Health Coverage Day

On Universal Health Coverage Day, I stand in solidarity with all people who lack access to the health services that they need. Today, 10 000 of those people will die. Every two minutes, a woman will die giving birth. And every second, three people will be pushed into extreme poverty paying for health care. Today, those with the greatest need for health care are the least likely to get it. This must change, and it must change fast.

12 December 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS Executive Director's message on the occasion of Human Rights Day

Human rights are key to ending AIDS and have been at the heart of every struggle and every success we have had since the beginning of the epidemic.

10 December 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes the decision by the Northern Territory of Australia to decriminalize sex work

UNAIDS applauds the decision by the parliament of Australia’s Northern Territory to decriminalize sex work. The Sex Industry Bill 2019 enhances the safety of sex workers and their clients by applying public health legislation to operators of sex service businesses and by allowing sex workers to work together. The legislation explicitly prohibits the exploitation of sex workers, supports their access to justice and outlaws any involvement of children.

02 December 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

World AIDS Day 2019 message from UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima

On World AIDS Day, UNAIDS salutes the achievements of activists and communities in the struggle against HIV. We remember and we honour all those whom we have lost along the way. Activists challenged the silence and brought life-saving services to their communities. But the countless contributions by women and many others can never replace the responsibility of governments.

01 December 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

November

Ensuring that people and communities have the power to choose, to know, to thrive and to demand is the key to ending AIDS

A new report by UNAIDS, Power to the people, released ahead of World AIDS Day, shows that where people and communities living with and affected by HIV are engaged in decision-making and HIV service delivery, new infections decline and more people living with HIV gain access to treatment.

26 November 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes the appointment of Ghada Fathi Waly as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNAIDS warmly welcomes the appointment of Ghada Fathi Waly as the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna.

25 November 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Winnie Byanyima joins UNAIDS as Executive Director

UNAIDS is pleased to welcome Winnie Byanyima as its new Executive Director. Ms Byanyima brings to the role more than 30 years of experience in political leadership, diplomacy and humanitarian engagement.

01 November 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

October

UNAIDS thanks all donors for pledging full funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

UNAIDS is hugely encouraged by the firm commitment that donors have shown to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). At its Sixth Replenishment Conference, held in Lyon, France, on 9 and 10 October 2019, the Global Fund raised US$ 14.02 billion, the highest amount ever for the partnership, which is working to end the three diseases.

11 October 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS urges all countries to seize the opportunity to unleash the power and potential of this generation of girls

On the International Day of the Girl Child, which this year runs under the theme “GirlForce: unscripted and unstoppable”, UNAIDS reaffirms the imperative to empower, invest in and engage adolescent girls and young women in shaping the AIDS response and the broader health and development agendas.

11 October 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

September

UNAIDS saddened by the death of Jacques Chirac

UNAIDS is deeply saddened by the death of the former President of France, Jacques Chirac, an early champion of the AIDS response.

26 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes announcement of significant price reduction in the cost of life-saving insulin for low- and middle-income countries

New initiatives to support access to health care announced at the UNAIDS Health Innovation Exchange meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly

25 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Go Further partnership reaches over half a million HIV-positive women with cervical cancer screening in its first year

The United States’ PEPFAR program, the George W. Bush Institute, Merck and UNAIDS are aiming to end AIDS and cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa within a generation through an innovative public-private partnership

25 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Multilateral agencies launch a joint plan to boost global health goals

Developed over 18 months, Stronger Collaboration, Better Health: Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All outlines how a dozen multilateral health, development and humanitarian agencies will collaborate to be more efficient and provide more streamlined support to countries to deliver universal health coverage and achieve the health-related SDG targets.

24 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    

UNAIDS to work with United Nations Member States for a decade of action and delivery to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

United Nations Member States have pledged to accelerate common efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, which include, under SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being, ending AIDS.

24 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS applauds the commitment of United Nations Member States to provide 1 billion more people with quality health services by 2023

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 23 September 2019—UNAIDS welcomes the strong commitment made by United Nations Member States to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.

23 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Global leaders unite to tackle health inequalities

London Mayor Sadiq Khan today welcomed city, municipal, and global leaders to Fast-Track Cities 2019, the inaugural conference of more than 300 cities and municipalities prioritizing their responses to urban HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis. Speaking at the conference, Mayor Khan highlighted the problem of health inequalities across the world, as well as the need to end the stigma still associated with HIV. He also reiterated the bold ambition for London to achieve the target of no new HIV infections, deaths, and stigma by 2030.

09 September 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

August

UNAIDS welcomes the appointment of Winnie Byanyima as its new Executive Director

UNAIDS warmly welcomes the appointment of Winnie Byanyima as its new Executive Director. Ms Byanyima has more than 30 years of experience in political leadership, diplomacy and humanitarian engagement.

14 August 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

July

United Nations Economic and Social Council calls for urgent action to scale up the AIDS response

ECOSOC resolution calls for the United Nations General Assembly to convene a high-level meeting to review progress made against the 2016 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS

26 July 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS calls on countries to accelerate efforts and close service gaps to end the AIDS epidemic among children and adolescents

A new report released today at the 10th  IAS Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City, Mexico, shows that the world is lagging behind in its commitment to end the AIDS epidemic among children and adolescents. 

22 July 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS calls for greater urgency as global gains slow and countries show mixed results towards 2020 HIV targets

The pace of progress in reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to treatment and ending AIDS-related deaths is slowing down according to a new report released today by UNAIDS. 

16 July 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Kaiser/UNAIDS analysis finds donor governments spent US$8 billion for HIV in 2018, similar to a decade ago

Donor government disbursements to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries totaled US$8 billion in 2018, little changed from the US$8.1 billion total in 2017 and from the levels of a decade ago, finds a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

16 July 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    

UNAIDS calls for the immediate release of NGO members arrested in Malawi

UNAIDS regrets unnecessarily involving the authorities in Malawi in its outstanding issue with the Mango Network.

11 July 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

June

UNAIDS Board welcomes the UNAIDS Management Action Plan and advances the nomination process for the next UNAIDS Executive Director

Board members also approve UNAIDS 2020-2021 budget and the establishment of an independent evaluation function

28 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS and UNDP call on 48* countries and territories to remove all HIV-related travel restrictions

New data show that in 2019 around 48* countries and territories still have restrictions that include mandatory HIV testing and disclosure as part of requirements for entry, residence, work and/or study permits

27 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS and the Global Fund sign new strategic framework to strengthen joint support to countries in ending AIDS

UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) have signed a strategic framework for cooperation and collaboration to strengthen and accelerate support to countries’ efforts to end AIDS. The framework outlines the existing, wide-ranging scope of collaboration between the two organizations, and highlights specific areas for enhanced cooperation to help focus efforts and resources where they are needed most.

27 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes important study results which find no significant difference in HIV risk among three highly effective contraceptive methods

UNAIDS also calls for urgent action to integrate full HIV combination prevention with sexual and reproductive health services as study finds extremely high HIV incidence among women

14 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court of Colombia to strike down the section of the criminal code criminalizing HIV transmission

UNAIDS welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court of Colombia to remove the section of the criminal code that criminalizes HIV and Hepatitis B transmission. Overly broad criminalization of HIV transmission is ineffective, discriminatory and does not support efforts to prevent new HIV infections.

13 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes the decision of the High Court of Botswana to repeal laws that criminalize and discriminate against LGBT people

UNAIDS applauds the landmark decision of the High Court of Botswana to declare unconstitutional key provisions of Sections 164 and 167 of the Botswana Penal Code. Those provisions criminalized certain private sexual acts and have led to discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Botswana.

11 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Galvanizing global ambition to end the AIDS epidemic after a decade of progress

A new report from the United Nations Secretary-General, Galvanizing global ambition to end the AIDS epidemic after a decade of progress, has been presented to United Nations Member States during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Member States gathered at the United Nations in New York, United States of America, to review progress and share their own progress and challenges.

03 June 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

May

Interagency statement on promoting local production of medicines and other health technologies

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are becoming increasingly interested in developing the local production of quality-assured medicines and other health technologies. This is due to its potential to assist LMICs in improving access to quality-assured medicines and other health technologies, achieving universal health coverage (UHC), and reaching the health-related targets and broader developmental objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals.

31 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    

UNAIDS deeply regrets the decision of the High Court of Kenya to maintain laws that criminalize and discriminate against LGBT people

UNAIDS deeply regrets the decision of the High Court of Kenya to maintain key provisions of Sections 162 and 165 of the Kenyan Penal Code. Those provisions criminalize certain private sexual acts and lead to discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Kenya.

24 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Model Drug Law for West Africa presented to ministers of health on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the World Health Assembly

The West Africa Commission on Drugs, UNAIDS and the Global Commission on Drug Policy today presented the Model Drug Law for West Africa to ministers of health of the Economic Community of West African States.

22 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS launches Health Innovation Exchange to connect innovations in health to country needs and investments

UNAIDS and partners have launched a new initiative to leverage the potential of innovations to improve the health of all. The Health Innovation Exchange will link innovators to investors and innovations to implementers. Launched on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, the initiative aims to support global efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

21 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

United Nations Secretary-General appoints Gunilla Carlsson as Executive Director, a.i., of UNAIDS

UNAIDS warmly welcomes the appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General of Gunilla Carlsson as Executive Director, a.i., of UNAIDS. Ms Carlsson joined UNAIDS in February 2018 as the Deputy Executive Director for Management and Governance and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.

18 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS calls on countries to remove discriminatory laws and enact laws that protect people from discrimination

Discriminatory laws drive key populations out of reach of critical health and social services

16 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS and the LGBT Foundation launch groundbreaking study on happiness, sex and quality of life for LGBTI people

New global survey aims to fill the data gap on the mental well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people to create better conditions and improve health

14 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS congratulates Michel Sidibé on his appointment as Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Mali

UNAIDS extends its heartfelt thanks to the Executive Director of UNAIDS for his outstanding contribution to the global response to HIV

08 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes additional evidence that effective antiretroviral therapy stops transmission of HIV

Results from a large-scale European study among serodiscordant gay couples show that adherence to effective treatment prevents transmission of HIV

03 May 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

April

UNAIDS welcomes appointment of David Malpass as the new President of the World Bank

UNAIDS welcomes the announcement that David Malpass will be the new President of the World Bank, beginning his five-year term on Tuesday, 9 April 2019.

08 April 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS and the United Nations Population Fund urge the Government of Brunei Darussalam to repeal new discriminatory and harmful criminal law provisions

UNAIDS and UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, are seriously concerned by new criminal law provisions that came into force yesterday, 3 April 2019, in Brunei Darussalam. The provisions, which impose the death penalty for same-sex sexual activity, adultery and for having a child outside of marriage, breach a number of international human rights norms, including the right to be free from torture and from cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. The provisions will have a significant negative impact on overall health and well-being.

04 April 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS presents a new plan to create a healthy, equitable and enabling environment for UNAIDS staff

UNAIDS presented a new Action Plan to its Board members during a special session of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), held on 28 March 2019. The Action Plan sets out a series of priority areas that UNAIDS will be working on to create a positive organizational culture and increase the awareness of managers and staff of their accountability, rights and duties.

01 April 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

March

UNAIDS reports mixed progress towards reaching the 2020 target of reducing TB deaths among people living with HIV by 75%

Five countries met the target three years ahead of the 2020 deadline and 18 more are on track; however, most countries are lagging behind and risk missing the target completely. UNAIDS urges countries to step up action.

22 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Landmark international guidelines launched on human rights and drug policy

A coalition of United Nations Member States, United Nations entities and leading human rights experts meeting at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria, today launched a landmark set of international legal standards to transform and reshape global responses to the world drug problem.

15 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

New survey results indicate that Nigeria has an HIV prevalence of 1.4%

Expanded data collection and analysis provides better understanding of HIV epidemic in Nigeria

14 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Promises to improve health outcomes for people who inject drugs remain unfulfilled as 99% do not have adequate access to harm reduction services

A report released today by UNAIDS shows that despite a decline in new HIV infections globally, HIV incidence is not declining among people who inject drugs. HIV incidence was 1.4% among people who inject drugs worldwide in 2017 and one third of new HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa are among people who inject drugs. The report also shows that 99% of people who inject drugs live in countries that do not provide adequate harm reduction service coverage.

13 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

On International Women’s Day, UNAIDS calls for greater action to protect young women and adolescent girls

Every day, 460 adolescent girls become infected with HIV and every week 350 adolescent girls die of AIDS-related illnesses

08 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes large-scale HIV prevention trial results showing a 30% decline in the rate of new HIV infections

SEATTLE/GENEVA, 6 March 2019—UNAIDS welcomes the results from the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial.  The results showed a 30% decline in new HIV infections where HIV prevention, including home-based HIV counselling and testing, was provided, as well as referral to HIV care and treatment for people testing positive for HIV according to country guidelines. 

06 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS is greatly encouraged by news of a possible cure of an HIV-positive man

SEATTLE/GENEVA, 5 March 2019—UNAIDS is greatly encouraged by the news that an HIV-positive man has been functionally cured of HIV. The man was treated by specialists at University College London and Imperial College London for advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2016 using stem cell transplants from a donor who carried a rare genetic mutation. Researchers report that HIV has been undetectable in the man since he stopped taking antiretroviral medicine 18 months ago. 

05 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS urges action to change discriminatory laws in order to restore dignity and respect and save lives

On Zero Discrimination Day, UNAIDS calls on countries to examine discriminatory provisions in their laws and policies and make positive changes to ensure equality, inclusion and protection

01 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Message from the UNAIDS Executive Director on Zero Discrimination Day

My call this year is focused on changing discriminatory laws and practices that block people from accessing health and other life-saving services.

01 March 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

February

UNAIDS welcomes Shannon Hader as new Deputy Executive Director of Programme

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Shannon Hader as the new Deputy Executive Director of Programme of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.

12 February 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

African Union recognizes Executive Director of UNAIDS for his outstanding achievements in tackling AIDS

The African Union has passed a motion of support for the Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé recognizing that the invaluable work of UNAIDS, under the leadership of Mr Sidibé, has saved many lives and has had a decisive impact on the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

11 February 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes pledge by the President of the United States of America to stop HIV transmission in the country by 2030

UNAIDS welcomes the pledge by the President of the United States of America to stop HIV transmission in the country by 2030. The President made the announcement during his State of the Union Address to Congress on 5 February 2019.

06 February 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top

January

UNAIDS welcomes the call by Pope Francis not to discriminate

During a visit to the Good Samaritan Foundation and Home for people living with HIV in Panama, Pope Francis has urged people not to discriminate against their neighbours. The Good Samaritan Foundation and Home, or Casa Hogar El Buen Samaritano, is currently home to 16 people living with HIV aged from 16 to 60 years. They were among the first to be greeted by His Holiness during his visit.

28 January 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO urge countries in western and central Africa to step up the pace in the response to HIV for children and adolescents

At a high-level meeting in Dakar, Senegal, UNAIDS, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries in western and central Africa to do more to stop new HIV infections among children and adolescents and increase HIV testing and treatment coverage. 

16 January 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS calls for a fully funded Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

As the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) launches its sixth replenishment for its next three-year funding cycle, UNAIDS is urging donors to fully fund the Global Fund. 

11 January 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

UNAIDS welcomes appointment of Rico Gustav as Executive Director of GNP+

UNAIDS warmly welcomes the appointment of Rico Gustav as the Executive Director of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+).

11 January 2019   |   Email this link to me   |    Download PDF

Return to top