ICASA closing ceremony.

More than 10 million men and adolescent boys in sub-Saharan Africa have undergone voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention, according to a recent announcement made by the World Health Organization. At the 18th ICASA, WHO and UNAIDS co-hosted a satellite session to celebrate the achievement, but also to call for redoubling efforts on reaching adolescent boys and men. Zimbabwe, 2 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

People with disabilities march on the street. ICASA, Zimbabwe, 2 December 2015.

“On our continent, AIDS has the face of a woman. We cannot end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 if we do not empower our mothers, sisters and children.”—Inonge Wina, Vice-President, Zambia (second from left)

Community Dialogue Space, ICASA. Harare, Zimbabwe. Communities were the first responders to HIV three decades ago, and they remain essential in advocating for a robust response to the epidemic, delivering services that can reach everyone in need and tackling HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Community Dialogue Space, ICASA. Harare, Zimbabwe. Working alongside public health and other systems, community responses are critical to the success and sustainability of the global response to HIV.

Inonge Wina, Vice-President, Zambia, called on parliamentarians to emphasize the key role of policy-makers in ensuring sustained funding for the response to AIDS and in creating an enabling legal environment, particularly for women. ICASA. Harare, Zimbabwe.

ICASA. Harare, Zimbabwe. “Sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, people living with HIV, people with disabilities—it is only through solidarity and leaving no one behind that we can end the AIDS epidemic.” —Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director

Sex worker community empowerment and mobilization contributes to reducing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sex workers and increasing rates of condom use, service uptake, violence mitigation, economic empowerment and improved outcomes for their children. Full engagement of, and support for, global, regional and national sex work networks and organizations is the cornerstone of an effective response to HIV and sex work. Sex workers' right session at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Creating a legal and policy environment that gives sex workers equal rights of access to HIV services is good practice from both a public health and a human rights perspective. Realizing these rights gives sex workers dignity and enables them to be agents of HIV prevention and information with their clients and the larger community. Sex workers' right session at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Evidence shows that HIV prevalence among sex workers is 12 times greater than among the general population. And although disproportionately affected by HIV sex workers remain neglected by efforts to expand access to antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV prevention services and broader SRH services. Sex workers' right session at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Despite some progress, adolescent girls and young women are still being left behind and denied their full rights. They are often unable to enjoy the benefits of secondary education and formal paid employment under decent conditions, which would allow them to build skills, assets and resilience. Adolescents' session at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Adolescent girls and young women are often prevented from seeking services and making decisions about their own health. Adolescents' session at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Despite declining HIV infection rates, in 2013 globally, there were approximately 250 000 new HIV infections among adolescent boys and girls, 64% of which are among adolescent girls. Adolescents' session at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

“I am the mother of a beautiful little girl who was born free from HIV thanks to antiretroviral medicines. I am so grateful that my daughter is happy and healthy. I encourage everyone to get tested and to adhere to their treatment.” —Grace Chabuka, mother living with HIV and facilitator on stigma and HIV. Special event to commemorate World AIDS Day during the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

“We are voices in places where language is a barrier, so we speak about HIV and all related issues through music—we use music as a tool to fight against HIV and discrimination.” —Dereck Mpofu, musician. Special event to commemorate World AIDS Day during the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

People with disabilities march on the street. ICASA, Zimbabwe, 2 December 2015.

Young people entertained the audience with a series of performances, including poems, dances and a special World AIDS Day song. Special event to commemorate World AIDS Day during the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

“Sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, people living with HIV, people with disabilities—it is only through solidarity and leaving no one behind that we can end the AIDS epidemic.” —Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director. Special event to commemorate World AIDS Day during the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

“We all share responsibility to end the epidemic and eliminate HIV as a public health threat. Together, we can create a far different future. One that delivers life-saving services and drives transformational change for mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children, who deserve an AIDS-free future.” —Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator. Special event to commemorate World AIDS Day during the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

"The goal of zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination can only be achieved through strong leadership at all levels and through the inclusion of key populations.” —Bernard Haufiku, Minister of Heath, Namibia. Special event to commemorate World AIDS Day during the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Discussion on how to maximize the role of communities in optimizing prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Bukiki B. Sylvere, Regional Director, ITPC, Côte d’Ivoire; Angela Mushavi, National PMTCT and Paediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe; Deborah von Zinkernagel, Director, Office of the Global Fund and Global Plan Affairs, UNAIDS; María Isela Lantero Abreu, Chair, STI, HIV & AIDS National Program, Ministry of Health, Cuba; Bishop John I. Okoye; Florence Anam, Advocacy and Communications Manager of International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW), Kenya. Harare, Zimbabwe, 1 December 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

Suna Balkan, Head of the HIV/AIDS Working Group, Médecins Sans Frontières; Leo Zekeng, Deputy Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Western and Central Africa; Bahya Mohamed, Executive Secretary, Interministerial Technical Committee on AIDS, Malaria and TB, Djibouti; Moses K. Jeuronlon, Adviser for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In order to assess the implications of such human displacements, UNAIDS organized an event at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, which is being held in Harare, Zimbabwe. The event provided an opportunity for key stakeholders to share experiences and best practices in order to ensure that people affected by humanitarian emergencies can continue to access life-saving HIV services. Harare, Zimbabwe, 30 November 2015. Credit: UNAIDS

At the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa, being held in Harare, Zimbabwe, panellists at a UNAIDS special session discussed how the African Union common position aligns with the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals. The participants stressed the need to reach the AIDS goals and targets within a much broader and more ambitious framework and discussed how to address existing gaps and leave no one behind.

“Regional partners are definitely important, but it is all about people. Fragile communities are everywhere, but community responses achieve results. Reaching the end of AIDS is doable. Nelson Mandela’s call to “break the silence” is even more important today.” —Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director

“If the world came together and adopted the World Health Organization guidelines, we could double the number on treatment. This is bold. This is extraordinary, but it is also possible.” —Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Ambassador

“Africa is on the brink of breaking the AIDS epidemic,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé at the opening ceremony of the conference. “We have no time to lose. We have five years to Fast-Track the AIDS response so that the epidemic can’t rebound.” Credit: UNAIDS

David Parirenyatwa, the Minister of health and Child Care for Zimbabwe. Credit: UNAIDS

Evelyn Letio Boki, South Sudan; Sheila Tlou; Tendayi Westerhof and Diakite Abasse. ICASA, Zimbabwe, 2 December 2015.