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.
Region/country
Feature Story
Achieving and sustaining viral suppression among people living with HIV in Trinidad & Tobago
27 April 2026
27 April 2026 27 April 2026Civil society organisations play a critical role in the AIDS response, including facilitating access to HIV prevention and treatment services. The Medical Research Foundation (MRF), based in Trinidad & Tobago, is a perfect example of this. With 5,202 people in care, MRF serves more than 70% of all people living with HIV in the country and has the distinction of being the largest non-governmental HIV treatment and care clinic in the English-speaking Caribbean. It is also increasingly recognised as a model demonstrating excellence in HIV care and service delivery, grounded in strong clinical outcomes, robust data systems, and patient-centered innovation.
Through its coordinated and patient-centered approach to treatment and care, MRF is helping thousands of people living with HIV achieve improved health outcomes, including viral suppression and undetectable status.
At the end of June 2025, its treatment programme reflected strong performance across the continuum of care. Of 5,146 clients retained on treatment, 5,000 received a viral load test in the past 12 months—an extraordinary 97% coverage—and 4,733 were virally suppressed, achieving the global 95% target. By September 2025, there were 5,202 individuals receiving ART at MRF, of whom 4,822 (95%) achieved viral suppression and 4,107 (79%) were undetectable. These outcomes reflect the sustained impact of adherence support, treatment counselling, and continuous clinical follow-up.
Equally notable is the decline in treatment interruptions, a key measure of programme retention. Through community engagement, adherence support, and proactive follow-up strategies, interruptions steadily decreased from 446 to 246 between 2024 and 2025.
MRF credits its dedicated staff and partners, including the Ministry of Health and PEPFAR/CDC, for the success of its treatment and care programme. According to Nyla Lyons, MRF’s Technical and Scientific Director, “MRF’s success is a powerful reminder that coordinated partnerships, patient-focused interventions, and strong monitoring systems can achieve extraordinary health outcomes for people living with HIV. We are demonstrating how data-driven, patient-centred care can turn what was once a public health challenge into a story of hope, resilience, and success.”
These achievements highlight MRF’s critical role as a bridge between government services, civil society, and international partners, ensuring uninterrupted, high-quality care for people living with HIV. The combination of high viral suppression rates, sustained retention, and declining treatment interruptions underscores a model of care that is both effective and scalable. Sustaining and building on these gains will require continued investment, commitment, and innovation, which MRF is well-positioned to lead as it continues to demonstrate excellence in HIV care and service delivery in the Caribbean.
"MRF's partnership with the Ministry of Health is an example of the kinds of collaboration between government and civil society, including communities, that are essential for achieving and sustaining public health outcomes,” said Luisa Cabal, UNAIDs Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 endorses and places strong emphasis on the important role these partnerships play in the HIV response. UNAIDS commends MRF on the work they have been doing and their impressive achievements last year."
