1 December 2016

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

Today, we commemorate World AIDS Day—we stand in solidarity with the 78 million people who have become infected with HIV and remember the 35 million who have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the first cases of HIV were reported.

The world has committed to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are seeing that countries are getting on the Fast-Track—more than 18 million people are on life-saving HIV treatment and country after country is on track to virtually eliminate HIV transmission from mother to child. 

We are winning against the AIDS epidemic, but we are not seeing progress everywhere. The number of new HIV infections is not declining among adults, with young women particularly at risk of becoming infected with HIV.

We know that for girls in sub-Saharan Africa, the transition to adulthood is a particularly dangerous time. Young women are facing a triple threat: a high risk of HIV infection, low rates of HIV testing and poor adherence to HIV treatment.

Coinfections of people living with HIV, such as tuberculosis (TB), cervical cancer and hepatitis C, are at risk of putting the 2020 target of fewer than 500 000 AIDS-related deaths out of reach. TB caused about a third of AIDS-related deaths in 2015, while women living with HIV are at four to five times greater risk of developing cervical cancer. Taking AIDS out of isolation remains an imperative if the world is to reach the 2020 target.

With access to treatment, people living with HIV are living longer. Investing in treatment is paying off, but people older than 50 who are living with HIV, including people who are on treatment, are at increased risk of developing age-associated noncommunicable diseases, affecting HIV disease progression.

AIDS is not over, but it can be if we tailor the response to individual needs at particular times in life. Whatever our individual situation may be, we all need access to the tools to protect us from HIV and to access antiretroviral medicines should we need them. A life-cycle approach to HIV that finds solutions for everyone at every stage of life can address the complexities of HIV. Risks and challenges change as people go through life, highlighting the need to adapt HIV prevention and treatment strategies from birth to old age.

The success we have achieved so far gives us hope for the future, but as we look ahead we must remember not to be complacent. We cannot stop now. This is the time to move forward together to ensure that all children start their lives free from HIV, that young people and adults grow up and stay free from HIV and that treatment becomes more accessible so that everyone stays AIDS-free. 

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, 25 November 2016—In support of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day, UNAIDS is calling for urgent action to keep girls in school, end gender-based violence and reduce girls’ vulnerability to HIV.

Making sure that girls have access to schooling, particularly secondary education and comprehensive sexuality education, drastically reduces their risk of unintended pregnancy and infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. It can also play a central role in empowering girls and young women to prevent gender-based violence.  

“Adolescent girls and young women must have access to the information they need to make confident decisions about their health, their bodies and their future,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé.

A new report released by UNAIDS ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December, Get on the Fast-Track: the life-cycle approach to HIV, shows that 15–24 years of age is an extremely dangerous time for women. In 2015, around 7500 young women became infected with HIV every week. Young women who have no formal education are twice as likely to become infected with HIV than young women who have some schooling.

Educated young women have more opportunities in the labour market and are more likely to be financially independent. In general, they marry at a later age and have children when they are older and are better equipped for the challenges of raising a family. The realization of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and the advancement of women’s empowerment are crucial to reducing the impact of the HIV epidemic.

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 October 2016—On this International Day of the Girl Child, UNAIDS strongly supports the call by the United Nations for better age- and sex-specific data that can be used to improve the health and well-being of girls aged 10–19 years old.

Discrimination and disadvantage have held back the potential of girls and women for centuries. This generation of girls—an estimated 1.1 billion globally in 2016, the largest in history—has the power to change the world, but only if they can advance their knowledge, agency and freedom to make their own life-defining choices and reach their full potential.

“Girls count! We need to know what counts for girls, to make sure that they start life HIV-free, stay HIV-free or remain AIDS-free,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé.

Globally in 2015:

• Around 120 million girls (aged 15–19 years old) worldwide had experienced rape or other forced sexual acts at some point in their lives.
• In high HIV prevalence areas, women exposed to intimate partner violence were 1.5 times more likely to acquire HIV, with child marriage a risk factor for intimate partner violence.
• Almost 1100 adolescent girls and young women (aged 15–24 years old) were newly infected with HIV every day.
• About 70% of adolescent girls and young women (aged 15–24 years old) did not have comprehensive and correct knowledge of HIV.
• HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer are strongly linked. Giving HPV vaccine to all girls aged 9 to 13, regardless of HIV status, will prevent cervical cancer in later life.

The bold targets of the 2016 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS that promote the empowerment of women and girls uphold rights and gender equality as central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They provide our greatest opportunity to guaranteeing that this generation of girls reach their full potential. The collection and analysis of age- and sex-specific data enriched and informed by the experiences and voices of the world’s girls and young women will put them on the Fast-Track to ending AIDS.

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, 17 October 2016—At the close of the 2016 BRICS Summit in Goa, India, leaders of the BRICS countries (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa) have underlined the imperative of advancing cooperation and action to respond to the epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis.

In their declaration, the leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation among BRICS countries in promoting the research and development of local pharmaceuticals and diagnostic tools in order to facilitate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines. 

The Goa Declaration, issued at the end of the two-day summit, also took note of efforts made by BRICS health ministers to achieve the 90–90–90 targets by 2020, whereby 90% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status will access treatment and 90% of people on treatment will have suppressed viral loads. The declaration also noted the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, which took place in New York, United States of America, in June 2016, at which countries committed to following a Fast-Track response to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. 

At the end of 2015, almost one in three people living with HIV resided in a BRICS country, while those nations also accounted for almost a third of new HIV infections. 

“The continued leadership of the BRICS countries will be essential to ending the AIDS epidemic,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “South–South cooperation will be key to achieving the 90–90–90 targets, which are about accelerating and intensifying our efforts in the response to HIV in order to save lives,” he added.

The 90–90–90 targets are part of a Fast-Track response that aims to achieve ambitious millstones by 2020, including fewer than 500 000 people newly infected with HIV, fewer than 500 000 people dying from AIDS-related illnesses and the elimination of HIV-related discrimination.

It is estimated that a failure to Fast-Track would result in an additional 17.6 million new HIV infections worldwide and an additional 10.8 million AIDS-related deaths between 2016 and 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, 13 October 2016—UNAIDS extends a warm welcome to the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. Mr Guterres will succeed the current United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who leaves office at the end of this year, having held the position since January 2007.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, said, “I congratulate António Guterres on his appointment as Secretary-General. An experienced statesman, multilateralist and advocate for the most vulnerable, he will be a fantastic Secretary-General.”

UNAIDS looks forward to working with Mr Guterres towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Mr Guterres is a strong advocate for access to HIV services and respect for the rights of people living with HIV. In his vision statement for Secretary-General he stressed that the “dignity and worth of the person should be fully pursued.”

Mr Guterres has spent more than 30 years in government and public service, including serving as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. In 2005, he was elected as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by the United Nations General Assembly, serving for a decade until 2015.

Under his leadership, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees played an important role in ensuring access to HIV services for refugees, internally displaced people and other people affected by displacement and 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, 20 September 2016—UNAIDS applauds all donors and partners for their demonstration of a strong commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). At its Fifth Replenishment Conference in Montreal, Canada, donors pledged US$ 12.9 billion of the US$ 13 billion called for by the Global Fund for the three-year period 2017–2019.

For the three diseases, the Global Fund estimates that the amount raised will save 8 million lives, avert 300 million infections and help build sustainable systems for health.

“The Global Fund is an essential partner to address the continuing epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Through an effective response to these diseases we can improve the lives of millions of people and simultaneously address poverty, inequality and discrimination. This replenishment is an enormous contribution to our collective ambition of ending AIDS.”

The new financial commitments represent a significant increase compared to the US$ 12 billion in pledges made at the previous replenishment conference. Private donors and innovative financing mechanisms more than doubled their pledges to the Global Fund compared to the last conference. Several new countries made pledges and others increased commitments, including Canada, Germany and Japan. In addition to pledging to the Global Fund, Côte d’Ivoire announced a pledge of US$ 1 million to support the work of UNAIDS.

In 2015, an estimated US$ 19 billion was available from all sources for the global response to HIV in low- and middle-income countries. Around 57% of resources were from domestic public and private resources and 43% were from international sources, including 23% from United States of America Government bilateral contributions, 9% from the Global Fund, 3% from philanthropies and the rest from other bilateral and multilateral sources.

To meet global targets to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, UNAIDS estimates that US$ 26.2 billion will be needed in 2020, around US$ 7 billion more than was available in 2015. 

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, 15 September 2016—Ahead of the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund), to be held in Montreal, Canada, on 16 and 17 September, UNAIDS is calling on donors to fully fund the Global Fund. The Global Fund, a financing institution that raises and invests funds to support HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programmes, is calling for US$ 13 billion over the three-year period 2017–2019.

The Global Fund’s investment in HIV programmes has played an important part in the incredible progress made by countries over the past 15 years. This progress has inspired global commitments to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, which will require scaling up and front-loading investments.

“A successful replenishment of the Global Fund is critical,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We are entering a make or break point that will determine whether we end AIDS or whether the epidemic will be prolonged indefinitely.”

In June 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Political Declaration in which countries committed to a Fast-Track response to reach three key targets by 2020:

• Reducing new HIV infections to fewer than 500 000 globally.
• Reducing AIDS-related deaths to fewer than 500 000 globally.
• Eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

All partners in the AIDS response need to be well-equipped and adequately funded to enable the AIDS response to overcome unresolved systemic and structural challenges and achieve the historic milestone of ending the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Since the start of the epidemic, more than 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. UNAIDS has recently sounded the alarm about the epidemiological implications of a persistently high level of new HIV infections among adults, even as record numbers of people living with HIV have access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy. UNAIDS warns that if the number of new HIV infections rebounds, the AIDS epidemic could become impossible to control. Failing to meet global funding targets will result in more people becoming infected with HIV and more AIDS-related deaths.

“The Global Fund is a key anchor in our shared commitment to ending AIDS and needs the full political and financial backing of its donors,” said Mr Sidibé.

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 joins the United Nations Secretary-General in extending condolences to the families of the victims

GENEVA, 14 June 2016— UNAIDS expresses solidarity with all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and condemns the attack on a nightclub in Orlando, United States of America, in which 49 people were killed and more than 50 others injured. UNAIDS joins the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in extending our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and expresses its solidarity with the government and people of the United States of America and the global LGBTI community. 

“There is no place for hatred and violence based on sexual orientation in today’s world,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. “We have to build inclusive societies where all people are treated with respect and dignity and can lead lives free of fear and exclusion.”

LGBTI people face a wide range of human rights violations. The United Nations and others have documented widespread physical and psychological violence against LGBTI people in all regions of the world.

In September 2015, UNAIDS, together with 11 other United Nations entities, released a joint statement calling for an end to violence and discrimination against LGBTI people. The joint statement highlights the need to protect, respect and fulfil the rights of LGBTI people to live free from violence, persecution, discrimination and stigma.

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.

Following the adoption of the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration new investment fund recognizes the need to ensure no one is left behind in the AIDS response

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 9 June 2016—UNAIDS welcomes the United States’ announcement of a US$ 100 million Key Populations Investment Fund to expand access to HIV services. This fund created by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will help close the gap between people who have access and people who are being left behind.

UNAIDS welcomes the focus of the investment towards reducing stigma and discrimination, empowering community leadership in design and delivery of services and increasing the quality of data on key populations. Key populations—sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people and prisoners—have a right to health and human rights and must have full access to HIV prevention, treatment, social protection and legal services.

Announced at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, affirmed the US government’s commitment to health and human rights of key populations.

“It is unacceptable that key populations still face stigma, discrimination, and violence, which impede their ability to access quality HIV services.” said Ambassador Birx. “PEPFAR stands firmly and unequivocally with and for key populations, defined by UNAIDS as gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, and people who inject drugs, and prisoners, and we are deeply committed to protecting and promoting their health and human rights.”

This multi-year and comprehensive approach is critical to accelerate results and will help sustain community-led efforts including service delivery and addressing the barriers of stigma and discrimination that keep people from accessing essential services.

“UNAIDS stands in solidarity with everyone—especially key populations—who are blocked from services because of who they are or who they love”, said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “This bold initiative will quicken the pace of action—we need more actors to join this movement and UNAIDS is ready to support implementation.”

Civil society and key populations will be closely involved in the design and the implementation of the new investment fund.

New data released by UNAIDS shows that more than 90% of new HIV infections in central Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East and North Africa in 2014 were among people from key populations and their sexual partners. In the Asia and Pacific region, Latin America and the Caribbean, people from key populations and their sexual partners accounted for nearly two thirds of new infections. In sub Saharan Africa, key populations accounted for more than 20% of new infections, and HIV prevalence among these populations is often extremely high.

Key populations are present in all parts of the world and epidemiological evidence shows that they are globally at higher risk of HIV. People who inject drugs, are 24 times more likely to acquire HIV than adults in the general population, sex workers are 10 times more likely to acquire HIV, men who have sex with men are 24 times more likely to acquire HIV, transgender people are 49 times more likely to be living with HIV, and prisoners, are five times more likely to be living with HIV than adults in the general population.

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.