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Global Issues:
AIDS

Two decades ago, HIV infections peaked, with treatment available only to a select few. Since then, more affordable anti-retroviral medicines have transformed lives and improved prevention and testing efforts. However, progress does not equal success. Social and legal barriers still hinder access to HIV services, particularly for marginalized populations. Today, most new HIV infections occur outside sub-Saharan Africa. Although infections have declined more among women, adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa face infection rates more than than men. Through its partnerships with the , the United Nations Development Programme () aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

As World AIDS Day approaches, it's important to highlight the significance of preventive measures like PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) which offers over 90% protection against HIV when taken correctly, empowering individuals to protect themselves from potential exposure.

A new warns that critical decisions made this year will determine if the world meets its 2030 goal to end AIDS as a public health threat, highlighting a severe funding shortfall and rising infections that threaten progress.

We can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. On , 1 March, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity. This year is the tenth anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day. Upholding everyone’s rights is the responsibility of us all. Everyone can play a part in ending discrimination. On 1 March, and during the whole month of March, events, activities and messages will remind the world of this vital lesson and call to action: to protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.

The world can end AIDS, with communities leading the way. They connect people with person-centered public health services, build trust, innovate, monitor policies and services, and hold providers accountable. This World AIDS Day (1 December) is more than a celebration of community achievements; it is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles. In the report Let Communities Lead,  reveals that the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, but only if communities are fully included and are sufficiently funded to lead the way.

A new report shows that there is a clear path that ends AIDS that will help prepare for and tackle future pandemics and advance progress towards achieving the SDGs.

UNAIDS marks (1 March) this year under the theme “Save lives: Decriminalise.” Criminal laws targeting key populations and people living with HIV violate people’s human rights exacerbate the stigma people face and put people in danger by creating barriers to the support and services they need to protect their health. Criminalisation increases vulnerability and drives discrimination and structural inequalities. It robs people of the prospect of healthy and fulfilling lives. And it holds back the end of AIDS. We must end criminalisation to save lives.

The marks a step up to ensure that all children with HIV have access to life saving treatment and that mothers living with HIV have babies free from HIV. 

The Access to Health Fund aims to improve health equity in Myanmar – which has one of Asia's highest HIV prevalence rates - and supports the most underserved and vulnerable populations.

determined earlier this year that the AIDS response is in danger—with rising new infections and continuing deaths in many parts of the world. Now, a new UNAIDS report, , shows that inequalities are the underlying reason why. The report shows that urgent action to tackle inequalities can get the AIDS response on track. It sets out how worsening financial constraints are making it more difficult to address those inequalities. The report also shows how gender inequalities and harmful gender norms are holding back the end of the AIDS pandemic.

Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them. This World AIDS Day,  is urging each of us to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS. The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS.

is calling on countries to challenge the inequalities and injustices that are obstructing efforts to end the HIV pandemic and weakening responses to other health threats. 

talks this week with for their podcast ‘’. Jon is an adventurer, traveller, former ballet dancer and above all – walker. He has set out on a staggering journey – to go around the world on foot, visiting each of the world’s 7 Modern Wonders, a massive journey of over 80,000 kilometres.  Jon’s motivation for his mega walk is to raise awareness and understanding of HIV. He reflects on his own fear of being infected with the disease as a teenager, a fear that grew to the point that he became celibate.

Globally, only half (52%) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults where three quarters (76%) are receiving antiretrovirals, according to the data that has just been released in the . Concerned by the stalling of progress for children, and the widening gap between children and adults, , , and partners have brought together a global alliance to ensure that no child living with HIV is denied treatment by the end of the decade and to prevent new infant HIV infections.