Documents
UNAIDS PCB Bureau meeting 4 May 2026
04 May 2026
Press Statement
UNAIDS pays tribute to Botswana’s former President Festus Mogae, a champion, pioneer and leader in the response to HIV
11 May 2026 11 May 2026GENEVA, 11 May 2026—UNAIDS mourns the death of Botswana’s former president Festus Mogae. President Mogae led Botswana between 1998 and 2008, tackling Botswana’s HIV pandemic with resolve and dedication as the country faced one of highest HIV burdens in the world.
Under his leadership, Botswana became the first African country to launch a national, free and comprehensive HIV treatment programme, setting a precedent for the region and the world. During President Mogae’s tenure, AIDS-related deaths were reduced by 39% and new HIV infections among children were reduced by 73%, putting Botswana well on the path to ending AIDS. In 2021, Botswana became the first high burden country in the world to reach the Path to eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV.
He understood early that ending AIDS required more than medicine alone. He consistently called on leaders to confront stigma, discrimination and inequality, recognizing that protecting human rights was essential to protecting public health.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of former President Festus Gontebanye Mogae,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “He was a courageous and visionary leader who confronted HIV with honesty, science and compassion when few dared to do so. At a time when many questioned whether African countries could deliver universal HIV treatment, President Mogae demonstrated that bold political leadership, national ownership and investment in people could change the course of an epidemic. His legacy lives on in the many lives saved and changed and in the global AIDS response he helped shape. May he rest in power and peace.”
President Mogae remained a strong advocate for the AIDS response after his time in office. He devoted his time and voice to urging governments to lead with courage, compassion and accountability. In 2008 he launched, and served as Chairman, of the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation, a distinguished group of former presidents and influential African leaders committed to achieving an AIDS-free generation in Africa. He was also a member of UNAIDS High-Level Commission on HIV Prevention and member of the UNAIDS-Lancet Commission on Defeating AIDS–Advancing Global Health.
In 2008, President Mogae was awarded the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in 2008, including for his outstanding leadership on HIV response in Botswana and the rest of the African continent.
During his presidency, President Mogae led and championed an inclusive national HIV response, including access to treatment, fighting stigma and ending discrimination. President Mogae leaves an undisputed HIV legacy, which carried through Botswana’s successive leaders in the fight against the epidemic. UNAIDS joins the Government of the Republic of Botswana, its people and his family and the entire world in paying tribute to president Mogae.
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.
Region/country
Documents
Second meeting of the PCB Working Group on the Thematic Segment of the 58th PCB meeting
14 April 2026
Press Release
‘Stronger together to end AIDS’ is the resounding call at the International Francophone Conference on HIV
06 May 2026 06 May 2026GENEVA 6 May 2026—As the 13th International Francophone Conference on HIV (AFRAVIH) ends, the resounding call from UNAIDS and partners is to continue to move forward together to end AIDS by 2030.
Addressing participants Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director said, “Ending AIDS has never been only a medical challenge it has always been shaped — and determined — by inequality. Our greatest breakthroughs came when we closed gaps in access to scientific innovation, to finance, and to rights driven by political leadership, global solidarity, and a powerful community-led movement.”
Christine Katlama, President of AFRAVIH said, “In this challenging global context, with a real fear that HIV may rebound, we must share our scientific knowledge and maintain our solidarity.”
With global aid falling by more than 23% last year, many countries are struggling to fill the gap. Professor Nicolas Meda from Burkina Faso voiced that African countries commit too little money to health and more on defence and debt repayments. Currently only three out of 54 African countries have achieved the commitments set out in the 2001 Abuja Declaration of spending 15% of their annual national budgets on health. He said that every US$ 1 spent on health has a return on investment of US$ 3-4.
“African health sovereignty is a public health emergency and a political and existential obligation. It is up to us to build that future now,” he said.
Throughout the conference, the Global AIDS Strategy 2026–2031 was cited as the critical roadmap to ending AIDS. It outlines three strategic priorities: 1) Sustaining the response through country-led, resilient and future-ready systems, 2) Putting people at the centre, ensuring equity, dignity and access to services and 3) Empowering communities to lead and shape the HIV response.
“The funding shock has been brutal but we are all invested in the fight against HIV, so we only have one choice: Move forward and not abandon our common goal of ending AIDS,” said Michel Kazatchkine, former UN Special envoy on HIV/AIDS.
Many of the speakers in the conference were from the West and Central African region, which has made notable progress in recent years with a 55% reduction in new HIV infections across the region and a 60% decline in AIDS-related deaths between 2010 and 2024. However, the region also has much work to do accounting for 36% of all new HIV infections among children globally. In addition, one in three people living with HIV among key populations report having been refused access to health services and/or discrimination. And eight countries in the region demand parental consent for HIV testing of minors, adding barriers for young people to know their status. The region accounts for 19% of new global HIV infections among adolescents and young girls (15-24.)
Nearly 1000 participants attended the four-day conference held at a critical moment, just ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. All Member States will come together on June 22,23 in New York to negotiate and adopt a new Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS - an integral part of efforts to end AIDS 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.
Documents
Sustaining HIV Community-led Responses: Technical guidelines for costing and budgeting
06 May 2026
Community-led responses (CLRs) are a vital pillar of the HIV response and central to achieving national and global targets, including the 30-80-60 commitments outlined in the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. These guidelines provide practical, step-by-step methods for costing and budgeting community-led responses (CLRs), tailored to the unique features of CLRs. They are designed for use by community-led organizations (CLOs), their partners, national governments, policy-makers, donors, and researchers involved in planning, implementing, financing or evaluating CLRs that address HIV.
Documents
THE COST OF INACTION: The cost of not realizing the HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda
04 May 2026
UNAIDS uses ‘cost of inaction’ as an indicator of the negative impact on the lives of people and communities of not investing resources to end AIDS. This issue is particularly significant with regard to the provision of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for young people in eastern and southern Africa.
The cost of inaction for young people is especially significant as the impact extends through most of their life. This report explores the costs of inaction in not realising the HIV and SRHR needs of young people in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, focusing on costs related to: 1) adolescent pregnancies, 2) HIV acquisition and 3) gender-based violation.
Using a cost of inaction approach, this report calculates the annual current cost of the inadequate provision of HIV and SRHR services to young people aged 15–24 years old in the three countries. This provides a foundation for alternative policies to be costed to address these gaps and a true cost–benefit analysis to be conducted.
Press Statement
UNAIDS applauds Botswana on fully repealing anti-LGBTQ+ law
30 April 2026 30 April 2026GENEVA/GABORONE, 4 May 2026— More than six years after Botswana’s courts struck down a ban on same-sex intimacy, the government has now formally removed the discriminatory provisions from the law.
On 26 March, the government published a notice amending the Penal Code by deleting references to “Unnatural Offences.” Under the penal code, same-sex relationships were criminalised with sentences of up to seven years’ imprisonment. This follows the High Court’s 2019 ruling, which found that the provisions were unconstitutional and violated the rights of LGBTQ+ people, and was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2021.
"This important step is a powerful move towards a more inclusive Botswana," said Umunyana Rugege, Human Rights lead at UNAIDS. "Criminalising same-sex sexual relations perpetuates an environment of discrimination and fear, making access to essential HIV services for LGBTQ+ individuals difficult. To protect everyone’s health, we need to protect everyone’s human rights.”
UNAIDS commends the courage and leadership of Botswana, and urges countries with punitive laws to follow Botswana’s example by addressing inequalities, stigma and discrimination, and all barriers that stand in the way of equitable access to health, HIV services, and the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
A more just, equitable and compassionate world is a healthier one for all.
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.