A new fast-track strategy proposes rapid and massive acceleration of HIV prevention and treatment programmes with a people-centred approach for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This call and new commitments were made at a high-level side event entitled Fast track: Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has appointed leading fashion designer Victoria Beckham as UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador. The announcement was made at a special event held during the 69th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Isolated from public health services, including national AIDS or tuberculosis programmes, prisons and other closed settings are often neglected in country responses to HIV and tuberculosis. Protective laws, policies and programmes are needed to improve the health and safety of prisoners and society as a whole.

The 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly is taking place in New York from 16 September 2014 until 1 October 2014. UNAIDS is participating in a number of events.

AIDS 2014 took place 20-25 July in the Australian city of Melbourne under the theme “Stepping up the pace”. Delegates from all over the world participated in a series of sessions, panels and community-led discussions to take stock of the progress made, analyze the latest scientific advances and mobilize governments and communities to chart the way forward to end the AIDS epidemic.

The “Protect the Goal” campaign aims to raise awareness of HIV and mobilize young people to commit to HIV prevention. Here are some of the activities of the campaign.

UNAIDS governing body, the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) is holding its 34th Board meeting from 1 to 3 July in Geneva, Switzerland.

North Star Alliance and World Food Programme teamed up with Art for AIDS International to pilot a series of innovative visual-arts-based HIV workshops with truck drivers and sex workers of Beitbridge, Zimbabwe and students from the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts. The following is a selection of the art produced.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé visited the José Macamo General Health Center in Maputo to learn more about the services offered around maternal and child health.

UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors gathered in New York to participate in the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS. Through their participation in different events, they called upon member states of the United Nations to renew their commitment to reach the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2015.