GENEVA, 26 September 2019—UNAIDS is deeply saddened by the death of the former President of France, Jacques Chirac, an early champion of the AIDS response.

Speaking in 1997 at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on AIDS in Africa (ICASA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, he denounced a response to HIV that was on two tracks, where HIV treatment was only available in the Global North but people living with HIV were disproportionally living in the Global South.

In 1997, he announced the creation of the International Therapeutic Solidarity Fund, which funded access to antiretroviral therapy, including in the least developed countries. The fund was a precursor to the establishment in 2002 of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In 2006, Mr Chirac established the solidarity tax on aeroplane tickets, dubbed the Chirac Tax, which today is still an important source of financing for the AIDS response.

In 2008, after leaving the Presidency, he established the Fondation Chirac, which continues to work for access to health and quality medicines globally.

“It is thanks to leaders such as Jacques Chirac, who took responsibility and acted with principle, that today more than 23 million people globally have access to HIV treatment. I pay tribute to Mr Chirac’s leadership,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i.

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.

United Nations Member States launch an ambitious and accelerated response to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 24 September 2019—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. In a political declaration adopted by United Nations Member States at the summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, held on 24 and 25 September, United Nations Member States confirmed that the goals remain in reach if countries embrace transformation and accelerate implementation.

“What the Sustainable Development Goals give us is an extraordinary opportunity to create a better world for people to live in,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i. “As part of a better world we need to end AIDS, and ending AIDS requires achieving the Sustainable Development Goals—and to do this we need to work together. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals, but one common vision—to join hands to build a better future.”

The 17 SDGs, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, are the world's best plan to build a better world for people and the planet by 2030. They are a call to action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the environment. In adopting the new political declaration, Member States have reaffirmed their commitment to the core principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—to leave no one behind.

UNAIDS welcomes the commitment by Member States to leave no one behind and take to scale what the AIDS response has been working towards for nearly 40 years—a multisectoral, rights-based, people-centred approach that addresses entrenched social norms, social exclusion and legal barriers that undermine health and development outcomes.

The AIDS response is deeply interwoven with, and dependent upon, progress across sectors covered by the different SDGs and collective work on ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 will accelerate progress across a range of SDG targets.

UNAIDS will continue to work with Member States to end AIDS by 2030 and will boost efforts to make meaningful contributions to advances in the wider development goals, in particular by accelerating work around the SDGs most relevant to the AIDS response: good health and well-being; gender equality; reduced inequalities; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnerships for the goals. Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will improve the lives of everyone, everywhere.

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.

UNAIDS stresses the critical need to engage civil society and communities in every aspect of universal health coverage in order to leave no one behind

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. Member States recommitted to achieving UHC at the first ever United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, which took place in New York, United States of America, on 23 September. During the meeting, United Nations Member States adopted a political declaration on UHC in which they reaffirmed the right of people to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the worrying context of shrinking civic space, UNAIDS is encouraged by the call made by Member States in the political declaration to engage civil society in health system governance, in health policies and in the UHC review process. Engaging civil society and communities worldwide will be critical to ensuring the overall success of UHC.

“We strongly urge governments to invest in the leadership and capacities of diverse communities, especially those that are underrepresented,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i. “To reach the furthest behind, universal health coverage needs to engage communities and prioritize rights-based, transformative approaches. This will ensure equity in access to health services, deliver people-centred results and eliminate health disparities.”

UNAIDS is committed to enabling communities, particularly vulnerable communities, to participate in health planning, implementation and monitoring. As part of that work, UNAIDS has worked with partners on the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-Being for All, to ensure the full engagement of communities and civil society in UHC. The global action plan is to be launched in New York on 24 September.

UNAIDS also welcomes the commitment by Member States to leave no one behind, including children, youth, people with disabilities, people living with HIV, older people, indigenous people, refugees, internally displaced people and migrants. UNAIDS also urges Member States to reach groups particularly affected by HIV, including sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, prisoners and people in conflict settings, in order to ensure that even the most marginalized are reached with health services.

The political declaration on UHC recognizes that current action to achieve UHC is inadequate, with at least half the world’s population lacking access to essential health services. Currently, more than 800 million people have to spend at least 10% of their household income on health care and an estimated 100 million people are driven into poverty each year through out-of-pocket health-related expenses.

UNAIDS welcomes the commitment by Member States in the political declaration to stop the rise and reverse the trend of catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure and applauds the commitment to progressively cover 1 billion additional people with quality health services by 2023 with a view to covering all people by 2030.

UNAIDS supports the commitment of Member States to ensure sufficient domestic public spending on health, expand quality essential health services, strengthen health systems and provide adequate, predictable, evidence-informed and sustainable finances to support national efforts in achieving UHC. UNAIDS will continue to advocate for increased funding for health and for essential HIV prevention and treatment services to be included in health service delivery packages. 

In addition to the commitment of Member States to achieving UHC, they also reaffirmed the strong commitments made in the Political Declaration on Ending AIDS, which was adopted by Member States in June 2016. In the Political Declaration on Ending AIDS, Member States recognize that progress in protecting and promoting the human rights of people living with, at risk of and affected by HIV has been far from adequate and pledged to review and reform legislation that may create barriers or reinforce stigma and discrimination.

“Legal barriers must be removed in order to ensure that the right to health is respected,” said Ms Carlsson. “The AIDS response has been grounded in a commitment to human rights, gender equality and non-discrimination and the needs of key populations must be met.”

Progress in the AIDS response and the achievement of UHC are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Both will contribute to achieving the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

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.

GENEVA, 14 August 2019—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.  

“I am honoured to be joining UNAIDS as the Executive Director at such a critical time in the response to HIV,” said Ms Byanyima. “The end of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is a goal that is within the world’s reach, but I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead. Working with all its partners, UNAIDS must continue to speak up for the people left behind and champion human rights as the only way to end the epidemic.”  

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, appointed Ms Byanyima as the UNAIDS Executive Director and United Nations Under-Secretary-General following a comprehensive selection process that involved a search committee constituted by members of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board. The UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations made the final recommendation on the appointment to the Secretary-General.  

Ms Byanyima brings a wealth of experience and commitment in harnessing the power of governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector and civil society to end the AIDS epidemic around the world. Ms Byanyima has been the Executive Director of Oxfam International since 2013. Prior to that, she served for seven years as the Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Programme.

Ms Byanyima began her career as a champion of marginalized communities and women 30 years ago as a member of parliament in the National Assembly of Uganda. In 2004, she became the Director of Women and Development at the African Union Commission, working on the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, an international human rights instrument that became an important tool for reducing the disproportionate effect of HIV on the lives of women in Africa.

She holds an advanced degree in mechanical engineering (in energy conservation and the environment) from the Cranfield Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Manchester.

The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation and gratitude to the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, Gunilla Carlsson, for her service as the Executive Director, a.i.

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.

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

GENEVA, 14 June 2019—UNAIDS welcomes new results from the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) study showing that there is no significant difference in risk of HIV infection among three highly effective contraceptive methods. The large-scale study, conducted in Eswatini, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia, examined the risk of HIV acquisition when using an injectable contraceptive, an implant inserted under the skin and a copper-releasing intrauterine device.

The ECHO study was conducted as part of efforts to collect better data following a number of observational studies which suggested a possible increased risk of HIV acquisition for women using progestogen-only injectable contraception. “These results are of critical importance to women in areas with high prevalence of HIV,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i.. “They give women and girls the information they need to make informed decisions over the choice of contraception methods available to them.”

However, the study also shines a spotlight on the severe impact that HIV is having on women and girls in eastern and southern Africa. It found extremely high incidence of HIV infections among the women participating in the trial—an average of 3.8% per year—incidence was even higher among young women below the age of 25.

“Finding such high rates of new infections among young women through this study is deeply disturbing,” said Ms Carlsson. “It shows that despite conscious efforts to integrate family planning and HIV services to date, we are clearly not getting it done in a way or to the extent needed to really support women to protect themselves from HIV. Focused combination HIV prevention efforts must be urgently integrated and intensified within sexual and reproductive health services, particularly in eastern and southern Africa, to stop women from becoming infected with HIV.”

Integrating HIV prevention within contraceptive and other sexual and reproductive health services in high prevalence settings includes offering HIV literacy, testing, linkage to antiretroviral therapy for people testing HIV-positive, partner testing, condom promotion and pre-exposure prophylaxis to protect against HIV. It should include linking women with particularly high risk to broader social and economic support.

Ensuring that young women are able to access a broad range of effective contraceptive methods and have the tools to protect themselves from HIV will help to ensure that women have agency over their own sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Following the new study results the World Health Organization will convene a Guideline Development Group to review its existing recommendations concerning women’s eligibility for using various contraceptive methods if they are at high risk of HIV. Updated recommendations are expected by the end of August 2019.

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.

GENEVA, 13 June 2019—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.

“Public health goals cannot be pursued by denying people their individual rights. The decision by the Constitutional Court of Colombia is a concrete step to ensure the law works for the HIV response, and not against it,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i. “UNAIDS will continue to advocate for a protective legal environment and the removal of punitive laws, policies, practices, stigma and discrimination that block effective responses to HIV.”

The Constitutional Court of Colombia established that the law violated the principles of equality and non-discrimination, as it singled out people living with HIV, stigmatising them and limiting their rights. The Court established that the law created a differential treatment that is not reasonable —and therefore constituted discrimination. The Court further established that such law violated the sexual rights of people living with HIV and it was ineffective to meet any public health objectives.

Overly broad and inappropriate application of criminal law against people living with HIV remains a serious concern across the globe. Nine jurisdictions in South and Central America and at least 77 others worldwide still criminalize HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission.

UNAIDS filed an intervention before the Constitutional Court of Colombia indicating that no data support the broad application of criminal law to HIV transmission to prevent HIV transmission. Rather, such application risks undermining public health goals and human rights protections. UNAIDS strongly commends the decision taken by the Constitutional Court to restore the dignity and rights of people living with HIV in Colombia.

In 2018, UNAIDS, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and the International AIDS Society convened an expert group of scientists who developed an Expert Consensus Statement on the Science of HIV in the Context of Criminal Law. The statement calls on the criminal justice system to ensure science informs the application of the law in criminal cases related to HIV. 

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.

GENEVA, 11 June 2019— 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.

“This is a historic ruling for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Botswana,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i. “It restores privacy, respect and dignity to the country’s LGBT people, and it is a day to celebrate pride, compassion and love. I commend the activists, civil society organizations and community groups that have campaigned so hard for this moment.”

UNAIDS has been working with LGBT groups, civil society organizations and other partners to promote a more enabling legal environment in the country. In recent years, the courts in Botswana have taken a lead in protecting and promoting the human rights of marginalized groups.

Criminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relations is a violation of human rights and legitimizes stigma, discrimination and violence against LGBT people. Criminalization stops people from accessing and using HIV prevention, testing and treatment services and increases their risk of acquiring HIV.

Globally, the risk of acquiring HIV is 28 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men than among the general population and 13 times higher for transgender women. Prohibitive legal and policy environments and a lack of tailored services for key populations increase their vulnerability to HIV. UNAIDS urges countries to ensure the full respect of the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, through repealing laws that prohibit sex between consenting adults in private, enforcing laws to protect people from violence and discrimination, addressing homophobia and transphobia and ensuring that crucial health services are made available.

“I hope that this decision reflects a move towards a more humane, compassionate and rights-based approach towards same-sex relations worldwide. It should encourage other countries to repeal unjust laws that criminalize same-sex sexual relations and block people’s access to essential services, including to health care,” said Ms Carlsson.

Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain criminalized in at least 67 countries and territories worldwide.

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.

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. 

The term "Local Production" can be defined in various ways. For the purposes of this statement, "local" refers to the geographical location, i.e. occurring in the country or region, and "production" — in regard to pharmaceuticals for example — refers to all activities along the pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain. Within the context of the public health agenda, promoting local production requires a holistic approach that considers policy coherence, regulatory systems strengthening, access to finance for sustainable production, a careful assessment of the business case, development of skilled human resources, access to technology for production and needs-based innovation, creation of investment incentives and other factors, to enable manufacturers to comply with international quality standards, be competitive and engage in sustainable manufacturing. 

The Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health Innovation and Intellectual Property, adopted at the 61st World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2008, cites local production and related transfer of technology as one of the elements to promote innovation, build capacity and improve access. More recently, at the 71st WHA in May 2018, Member States highlighted the importance of local production in the context of the global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines. 

A number of international organizations have also expressed their desire to source quality-assured medical products closer to the point of use. The pull effect of significant market opportunities can be a major factor in driving progress, particularly when aligned with partnerships in supporting the development of the industry and health workforce. 

Strengthening local production is a cross-cutting endeavour. Sustainable local production requires effective multisectoral collaboration in order to promote enabling investment, legal and technical environments. In many LMICs, the capacity of both local manufacturers to produce and supply quality medical products and the national regulatory authority to ensure quality, efficacy and safety is insufficient. Any supply of medical products — both through local production and imports — should go hand in hand with the strengthening of regulatory capacities in order to achieve compliance with international GxP[1] and other quality standards. Close partnership between the international community and LMICs is essential to support countries and regions to build the capacities, institutions and industries that can sustain the progress made. 

With the globalization of the pharmaceutical industry and the variety of country contexts, there is no "one-size fits-­all" approach in promoting local production of quality-assured medicines and other health technologies. However, in recognition of the important role local production can play in improving access to quality-assured medical products and achieving UHC, the undersigned organizations aim to work in a collaborative, strategic and holistic manner in partnership with governments and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen local production. We are committed to contribute based on our respective organizations' expertise and mandate.

Launched in Geneva on 24 May 2019

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO

Mr Li Yong, Director-General, UNIDO

Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD

Ms Gunilla Carlsson, Executive Director, a.i., UNAIDS

Ms Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF

Mr Peter Sands, Executive Director, The Global Fund

[1] Good manufacturing practices, good clinical practices, etc. ^

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.

GENEVA, 24 May 2019 — 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.

“Today’s ruling is a missed opportunity for Kenya to uphold human rights and to restore privacy, respect and dignity to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i. “I share the deep disappointment and frustration felt by LGBT people in Kenya and I want to assure them of UNAIDS’ continued support in reaching justice and equality for all.”

UNAIDS has been working together with the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Coalition and other LGBT groups as well as civil society organizations and other partners to promote a more enabling legal environment in Kenya.

There are indications that the judgement will be appealed.

Criminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relations is a violation of human rights and legitimizes stigma, discrimination and violence against LGBT people. Criminalization stops people from accessing and using HIV prevention, testing and treatment services and increases their risk of acquiring HIV.

“The failure to decriminalize consensual same-sex relations will undermine Kenya’s aim of reaching universal health coverage,” said Ms Carlsson.

Globally, the risk of acquiring HIV is 28 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men than among the general population and 13 times higher for transgender women. Prohibitive legal and policy environments and a lack of tailored services for key populations increase their vulnerability to HIV. UNAIDS urges countries to ensure the full respect of the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, through repealing laws that prohibit sex between consenting adults in private, enforcing laws to protect people from violence and discrimination, addressing homophobia and transphobia and ensuring that crucial health services are made available.

“We need to move towards a more humane, compassionate and rights-based approach towards same-sex relations worldwide. This decision entrenches unjust laws that criminalize same-sex sexual relations and block people’s access to essential services, including to health care,” said Ms Carlsson.

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.

GENEVA, 18 May 2019—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.

Ms Carlsson provides strategic direction to management functions and is leading UNAIDS’ work in promoting effective governance of the Joint Programme and ensuring that UNAIDS continues to serve as a pathfinder for United Nations reform.

“It is a great honour for me to serve UNAIDS as acting Executive Director at such a pivotal time for the Joint Programme, the United Nations and global health. The AIDS response cannot afford to be at a standstill,” said Ms Carlsson. “Human rights, gender equality and diversity must be at the centre of all we do. I look forward to continuing to work hand in hand with communities, staff and partners around the globe to achieve the 2020 targets and ultimately end AIDS.”

Prior to joining UNAIDS, Ms Carlsson served as an elected member of the Swedish Parliament and as the Minister for International Development Cooperation. She also served as an elected member of the European Parliament. Ms Carlsson was the Chair of the Swedish-initiated Commission on Climate Change and Development. She was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to a high-level panel for global sustainability ahead of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and served on the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Ms Carlsson is an affiliated member of the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and has served as its Vice-Chair since June 2017.

A strong leader in global health and development, Ms Carlsson has expertise in policy development on foreign policy, human rights, employment, research, security and defence. She also has extensive experience in the development and implementation of policy reforms and efficiency and accountability in complex organizations, including the private sector.

The process for the nomination of the next UNAIDS Executive Director is ongoing. The Executive Director will be appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General based on recommendations made by the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations. A search committee established by the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) and chaired by Yury Ambrazevich, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, is preparing a shortlist of candidates for discussion by the PCB.

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.