GENEVA, 20 February 2012—The Government of the Republic of Bénin, in collaboration with UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA and partners, today launched a national plan aimed at eliminating new HIV infections among children and improving the health of their mothers.

“This plan will contribute to satisfying the quality requirements for the care of pregnant women living with HIV, their children and their families,” said Bénin’s Minister of Health, Prof. Dorothée Kindé-Gazard, speaking today at an official ceremony in Cotonou hosted by the President of Bénin, Dr Thomas Yayi Boni. “It will make it possible to harmonize services that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV throughout the country and to better coordinate the interventions.”

According to government estimates, approximately 62 000 people are living with HIV in Bénin. Between 2004 and 2011, the number of health facilities offering services that prevent new HIV infections in children expanded from 204 to 450. Despite progress, only about half (49%) of pregnant women eligible for HIV services are currently receiving them.

In June 2011, Bénin signed on to the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive. As part of this effort, the national plan aims to ensure that all pregnant women living with HIV have access to HIV prevention and treatment services, and that new HIV infections among children are eliminated.

“I applaud the vision, commitment and will of Bénin’s political leadership—in particular the Minister of Health—to ensure that in the coming years, we will see that no child in Bénin is born with HIV and that all mothers remain healthy and alive,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, who also attended today’s ceremony.

The expected impact of the plan for the period 2012 to 2015:

1. A 90% reduction in the number of new HIV infections among children.
2. A 90% reduction in the number of AIDS-related deaths among children.
3. A 50% reduction in the number of AIDS-related deaths among mothers in the
   12-month post-partum period.

A number of strategies will be employed to reach these goals, such as: ensuring access to comprehensive services that prevent new HIV infections among children at all maternity hospitals across the country; ensuring access to treatment for all pregnant women who are eligible for antiretroviral therapy; expanding access to voluntary HIV testing and counselling; strengthening access to male and female condoms, especially among young people; and public advocacy campaigns.

As Libya celebrates the first anniversary of the 17 February revolution, UNAIDS together with the governing National Transitional Council are putting the building blocks in place to rejuvenate the country’s AIDS response.  

Following UNAIDS Executive Director meeting with the Libyan Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Adel M. Abushoffa, a short term plan has been set up for the country’s AIDS response. The foundation has also been laid to the development of a comprehensive national strategic plan on AIDS.

In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS is providing technical guidance to the government through a resident UNAIDS Senior Advisor to monitor the HIV epidemic, identify priorities and together with the government identify the main gaps in the response.

In the short term, the Libya has requested UNAIDS to support the procurement of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment drugs for around 3000 people living with HIV while working in parallel to reestablish the ARV supply and procurement system that has been interrupted for more than six months. The ARVs are now being shipped to the country.

UNAIDS is taking the lead in coordinating the UN system’s response to AIDS in Libya and new partnerships have been established with key donors such as the European Commission.

Some of the critical long term issues that need attention include strengthening the human resource base of the health system and ensuring that healthcare workers have the skills to provide HIV prevention and treatment services.

The AIDS response also has to focus on reducing stigma and discrimination, especially by health workers, decentralization of HIV-related services, reaching people at increased risk of HIV such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs as well as migrants and displaced people. The long term national strategic plan will focus on building the capacity of civil society organizations to implement HIV prevention outreach programmes.

As a first step to developing evidence informed AIDS response, Libya, in collaboration with WHO and UNAIDS, is strengthening its HIV surveillance system. Information about the epidemiological situation in Libya is sparse, yet preliminary assessments indicate a severe epidemic among people who inject drugs as well as anecdotal information about HIV infection among sex workers and sex trade on migration routes in the south of the country.  

WHO recommendations related to use of hormonal contraceptives remain unchanged. The use of condoms—male and female—is a reliable method of HIV prevention.

GENEVA, 16 February 2012—A stakeholder consultation convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva has reviewed recent epidemiological studies related to HIV transmission and acquisition by women using hormonal contraceptives. After careful review of all available evidence, the stakeholders found that the data were not sufficiently conclusive to change current guidance.

In light of this review, WHO today announced that its current recommendation­­—no restrictions on the use of hormonal contraceptives to avoid unintended pregnancies—remains unchanged. They also recommend that women using progestogen-only injectable contraceptives also use condoms or other measures to prevent HIV infection. This information must be communicated to sexually active women and girls by health workers pro-actively.

About half of the 34 million people living with HIV are women. In sub-Saharan Africa, the region most affected by the epidemic, nearly 60% of all new HIV infections occur in women.

The level of unmet family planning need among the 1.18 billion women aged 15–49 worldwide is estimated to be 11%. Among the 128 million women (married or in a union) aged 15–49 in sub-Saharan Africa, the estimated unmet need for family planning is more than twice as high, at 25%. This highlights the urgency of finding innovative solutions that address the dual needs of women in preventing HIV and stopping unintended pregnancies.

While a range of contraceptives protect against unintended pregnancies, only condoms, male and female, provide dual protection by stopping HIV transmission and preventing unintended pregnancies.  

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recommends that people who are sexually active—particularly women and girls—have full access to information and counselling to make evidence informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health needs. Women and girls must also have access to the widest range of contraceptive and HIV prevention options. Such services must be provided in an integrated manner by health workers.

The lack of female controlled methods of HIV prevention and low levels of condom use place women and girls at increased vulnerability to HIV infection. “Women need safe contraceptive and HIV prevention options that they can own and manage,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “New investments into research for female controlled HIV prevention options and safe contraceptive methods are essential.”

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé (centre) speaking at the consultation on the criminalisation of non-disclosure, exposure or transmission of HIV. Oslo, Norway, 14 February 2012.
Credit: UNAIDS

The Nordic countries have reiterated their commitment to HIV and to doing their part to help countries reach the ambitious targets set out by United Nations Member States in the 2011 Political Declaration on AIDS.

Their strong support was heard by the Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé during a working meeting with range of health and development partners from the Nordic countries to discuss greater collaboration in moving the AIDS agenda forward.

The meeting was part of a two-day visit to Sweden and Norway by the Executive Director of UNAIDS which began in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. During the discussions, health and development representatives from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden talked about the importance of human rights, HIV services for young people, and shared responsibility responding to HIV.

“The Nordic countries have been global leaders in areas of human rights and women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and they continue to be strong partners in the shared responsibility agenda,” said Mr Sidibé. “Their support, particularly as low- and middle- income countries look at ways of reversing the AIDS dependency crisis, remains vital to the success of the global AIDS response.”

Mr Sidibé discussed in detail Sweden’s policy priorities––which include addressing the needs of people most at risk of infection and ensuring human rights and gender equality––during a meeting with Sweden’s Minister for Development Cooperation Ms Gunilla Carlsson.

The Minister underscored the importance of seeking new paradigms for development cooperation that build on accountability and shared responsibility. She also welcomed UNAIDS’ efforts to address the AIDS dependency crisis and highlighted the UNAIDS investment framework as an important tool in a new phase of development cooperation.

Civil society groups and parliamentarians in Sweden met with the Executive Director of UNAIDS and spoke about the importance of UNAIDS’ work in protecting the rights of people most at risk of HIV and ensuring equity in access to HIV services.

A major focus of the Norway leg of the visit was a consultation on the criminalisation of non-disclosure, exposure or transmission of HIV. The meeting brought together policy makers, government officials, members of the judicial system, civil society and people living with HIV from around the world to ensure that legal systems globally are informed by accurate scientific information and a respect for human rights. The aim of the consultation was to promote better understanding of the issues and share best practices relating to the use of criminal law and protection of human rights.

This theme was carried through in a meeting between UNAIDS Executive Director and the Minister for the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim.

First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba with Pelé during the “CAN without AIDS” campaign event.
Credit: Josh Ponte & David Ignaszewski

On 10 February 2012, Brazilian football legend Pelé took thousands of young people by storm during a beach soccer tournament organized in Gabon alongside the 2012 Coupe d’Afrique des Nations (or “CAN”). After the tournament, “O Rei” Pele joined President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and the First Lady at a beach event organized as part of the “CAN without AIDS” campaign. 

The campaign, launched by the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation—a charitable organization run by Gabon’s First Lady—uses sports as a platform to reach millions of people with messages on HIV prevention across Africa, particularly youth. The campaign received support from UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé as well as Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o and Didier Ovono, captain of Gabon’s national football team.

The beach tournament brought together more than 400 young Gabonese to kick off the last round of the youth-focused AIDS campaign events. Pelé greeted the cheering crowds who were wearing T-shirts with HIV prevention messages.

The host of the event elaborated on the UNAIDS vision of “three zeroes”—Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths—while volunteers were distributing condoms and information on HIV. Gabon has an HIV prevalence of 3.5% among young women aged 15 to 24 and 1.4% among young men of the same age.

“I am ever grateful to the First Lady for her leadership in bringing together national authorities, celebrities and young people to share HIV prevention messages through sport,” said Salvator Niyonzima, UNAIDS Country Coordinator. “UNAIDS will continue to work with the First Lady’s Foundation beyond the CAN 2012 tournament to make the “three zeroes” vision a reality in Gabon,” he added.

First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and young people doing the “three zeroes” sign.
Credit: Josh Ponte & David Ignaszewski

Winners of the tournament were rewarded with front seats at the final of the 2012 African cup, where the president of Gabon had unveiled a statue representing Pelé's bust and dedicated it to him.

Timed with the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the “CAN without AIDS” campaign reached more than 43 000 local people, of which more than 1000 took free HIV screening tests. The campaign will now focus, with support from UNAIDS, on the national HIV response in Gabon, with each quarter of the year dedicated to one of the “three zeroes.”

Representatives from the community of people living with HIV and key populations most at risk urge governments in Asia and the Pacific to work with them to reach global AIDS targets and commitments.
Credit: UN ESCAP

Dressed in a striking blue and red shalwar kameez (traditional dress from South and Central Asia), Akkai, a transgender woman from Bangladesh, steps onto the stage. Turning to her audience of government officials from Ministries of health, justice, public security, drug control, social protection; United Nations officials; and fellow members of key populations most affected by HIV, she started to sing:

“I born as me/ My feelings changed… / I started behaving like a girl / I started walking like a girl / I started dressing as a girl / When my parents forced me to stop myself /  I was beaten up / I was locked up / I was tortured…./ …There was nobody to ask these things / … / This kind of torture, violence, harassment /  Is not faced only by me / Where to live?/ Where to share?/ Where to survive our life?”

Joining the scene, the coordinator of the Women’s arm of the Asia-Pacific Network of people living with HIV explained: “I have been living with HIV for 17 years. Fortunately I have had access to treatment. But now free-trade agreements are compromising access to essential medicines,” she said. “Eighty percent of generic medicines are made in this region. Without access to affordable medicines we cannot get to zero,” she added.

These personal experiences were two of many shared by people living with HIV and key affected populations at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) high-level intergovernmental meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand from 6-8 February 2012. The meeting was an opportunity to review the region’s progress towards international targets on AIDS.

“For the first time in history we have the possibility to end AIDS and Asia-Pacific nations have shown we can lead the world in making an impact. But we cannot ignore the challenges our region faces and how these can jeopardize our ability to progress,” H.E. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, President of Fiji, who underlined his long-term commitment and leadership on HIV as Chair of the high-level talks.

Representatives from the most-affected communities urged government delegations from Asia-Pacific nations to recognize the existing challenges in accessing HIV services posed by punitive laws and practices, threats to continued availability of HIV treatment and widespread stigma and discrimination. They also called upon governments to work increasingly with communities to ramp-up action to reach HIV goals.

The call to action was heard. By the end of the three-day talks, co-convened by UNAIDS and other UN partners, the nations present endorsed a framework to fast-track regional action on AIDS towards the achievement of global targets and commitments by 2015. Countries agreed to create ‘spaces’ for key affected communities—including people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, people who buy and sell sex, and transgender people—to be involved in the development of practical solutions to legal impediments and HIV service scale-up at the policy and programmatic level.

“It was recognized here that we have to find new ways to reach the maximum amount of people in the short time we have before 2015,” said UNAIDS Director of the Asia-Pacific Regional Support Team, Steven Kraus. “And there is no question; this must be done hand-in-hand with the community.”

Akkai, a transgender woman from Bangladesh, sings about the stigma and discrimination she faces.
Credit: UN ESCAP

In recent years, Asia and the Pacific has experienced significant progress in reduction of new HIV infections, increase on numbers of people receiving antiretroviral treatment and expansion of programmes to reach key populations most at risk.

Examples given by a number of countries at the Bangkok talks illustrated that scaled up HIV services coupled with intensive engagement of key affected populations, have led to declining epidemics. In Thailand for example, the transgender people-led initiative “Sisters”, which provides social services and support to transgender people in the Pattaya area reports that HIV incidence fell from 12 to 8% among people using its services in the last 5 years.

With such examples of progress, the importance of developing the next generation of community leaders is a central regional priority. The new Asia-Pacific framework for accelerated action underlines that young people from key affected populations must be heard, heeded, and have space at the policy and programme tables.

Emphasizing the readiness of young people most affected by HIV to take on a leadership role in the region’s future HIV response, Coordinator of Youth LEAD, the regional network for young HIV key affected populations, Thaw Zin Aye said: “Young people are taking ownership of the AIDS response and we are committed to carrying on the legacy. We urge governments to continue taking action with us.”

The endorsed regional framework emphasizes the need to share good practices and lessons learned in implementing the measures and commitments related to HIV. Asia-Pacific countries also requested UN ESCAP, UNAIDS and other cosponsors to support implementation of the road map.

CCTV News anchor and UNAIDS national Goodwill Ambassador James Chau during the World AIDS Day 2011 commemoration in Sydney.
Credit: UNAIDS

For a second consecutive year, China Central Television has awarded its annual prize to CCTV News anchor and UNAIDS national Goodwill Ambassador James Chau for his outstanding journalistic reporting in 2011.

Over the past 12 months, Mr Chau reported on key global events such as the political changes in the Middle East and North Africa, the Norway killings and development issues like the Durban Climate Change Conference, the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS and the Youth Summit on HIV/AIDS.

“I congratulate Mr Chau on receiving this award that acknowledges his integrity in news reporting,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “Mr Chau has also been a tireless advocate highlighting the global AIDS issues during his participation in a number of international fora.”

The first UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador to be appointed on the Chinese Mainland, Mr Chau uses his television and digital media platforms to help support the rights of people living with HIV. On World AIDS Day 2011, Mr Chau joined the Governor-General of Australia and the Australian HIV Partnership in lighting the Sydney Opera House—the first of dozens of iconic landmarks around the world to turn red to raise awareness on the Getting to Zero campaign.

CCTV News is the international division of China Central Television and airs globally 24 hours a day from its broadcast centers in Beijing, Nairobi and Washington, DC. Together with the network’s other channels, it reaches the country’s 1.3 billion population and a large international audience.

24-year old Ayu Oktariani from Indonesia who is living with HIV is part of the Youth LEAD network for key affected populations.
Credit: UNAIDS

When Palitha Wijebandara from Sri Lanka found out he had tested positive for HIV, he was shocked and confused. He had been tested as part of a company policy at his work, without his specific consent or proper counseling, and he did not understand the implications of his test result.

Palitha is one of many thousands of people in Asia and the Pacific who have faced the challenge of discovering their HIV status in their youth. At only 23 years old, he was alone. He did not know how to face his family. He feared discovery of his status and of the fact that he had been having relations with other men.

In Asia and the Pacific, evidence indicates that 95% of all new HIV infections in young people in the region are among young people from key affected populations—young people who buy and sell sex, young men who have sex with men, young transgender persons and adolescent drug users.

Specific data on young people at higher risk of HIV in the region is sparse. But estimates that do exist give cause for concern. In some Asian countries, three out of five female sex workers, and almost half of all men who have sex with men, are younger than 25 years. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 82% of sex workers are in that age group. In Nepal, half of all people who inject drugs start injecting in their late adolescence, when they are between 15 and 21 years old. By the time someone has been injecting for a year, there is a 33% chance that they will have acquired HIV.

Multiple challenges

Despite high vulnerability to HIV infection, young people at higher risk find it difficult to obtain information on HIV, sterile injecting equipment, or other services such as HIV testing and support. Across Asia-Pacific, programmes focusing specifically on young people most at risk are often scarce.

“Prevention campaigns don’t reach out to young female sex workers as often we do not come out to access the information, and if we do, it doesn’t speak to us,” said Ms Fulmaya*, a young sex worker from Nepal.

“As a young gay man, some things are hard to say openly and you worry that if you say those things, people will discriminate against you. The first time I wanted to get an HIV test, I had no idea where to get it and I was too scared to go to the hospital,” said Xiao Chen*, 21, from China.

Stigma, the criminalization of certain behaviours and other legal hindrances mean that young people from key populations at higher risk are often difficult to reach. In many countries, taking an HIV test, going on HIV treatment, or using reproductive health or harm-reduction services requires the consent of a parent or guardian.

“I can’t get the free HIV test because I don’t want my mother to know what I’m doing and so I cannot provide the clinic with parental consent. All I want is to know my HIV status,” said Bugoi a transgender sex worker from the Philippines.

Many adolescents find sexually transmitted infection clinics and HIV clinics intimidating, and feel uncomfortable talking about personal issues with clinical staff who are much older than them, and who can be judgmental. Harm-reduction programmes for drug users generally focus on male adults, despite statistics that show some young drug users start injecting as early as 12 years old and the fact that young women also need services.

“I have heard of organizations that give out needles but many are far and they only target the boys,” explained Payal, an 18 year old woman from Nepawho uses drugs.

An often-expressed frustration of young people from key populations at higher risk in Asia is that they often feel they are robbed of the voice to describe, discuss and alter their realities.

“Young people have plenty to say, but their voices aren’t heard. I think if people paid more attention to HIV and strengthened the voice of the community a bit, more people would learn about HIV and understand the issues and what we need,” Xiao Chen* said.

Time to lead

Some significant action is being taken to bring the voice of young key affected populations to the foreground –organizations and networks of young people from key populations at higher risk are gradually becoming strengthened.

Sri Lankan Palitha Wijebandara, who discovered his status through an unauthorized HIV test, drew strength from his involvement in peer support and, recently, from his efforts to promote the rights of young people from key populations at risk through Youth LEAD. This Asia Pacific regional network set up in 2010 is helping develop youth leadership in key populations at higher risk to strengthen their involvement in community, national and regional programmes. Representatives from Youth LEAD and other youth at risk organizations are increasingly being able to take their place at the table in regional policy arenas and debates.

From 6-8 February in Bangkok, Thailand, the need for increased focus on and involvement of young people from key affected populations in the Asia-Pacific AIDS response is one of the central areas of discussion at a high-level United Nations meeting. Young people from key affected populations are joining government leaders and senior officials from across Ministries of health, justice, law enforcement, social development and drug control agencies as well as their older civil society counterparts from key affected populations and people living with HIV to address legal and policy barriers that impede access to HIV services in the region.

According to UNAIDS Director of the Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, Steve Kraus, the regional UN gathering on AIDS provides the ideal opportunity for young people from key communities to “Be loud, be heard and be honest about the critical things you need to make Getting to Zero a reality in this region.”

For 24-year old Ayu Oktariani from Indonesia who is living with HIV, and participating in the Bangkok meeting with Youth LEAD, the message is simple: “We need to be empowered and supported so that we can take ownership of AIDS. We are here to say please include us, listen to us, work with us and together we can achieve great things.”

 A longer version of this feature first appeared in the UNAIDS publication: HIV in Asia and the Pacific - Getting to Zero, August 2011.

* Some names have been changed on request to protect the identities of the interviewees

First Lady of Namibia and OAFLA President Penehupifo Pohamba (pictured left) at the 11th OAFLA General Assembly, together with the First Lady of Chad, Hinda Déby Into (centre) and the Ethiopian First Lady, Azeb Mesfin.
Credit: UNAIDS/J.Ose

Speaking at the 11^th General Assembly of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) on 30 January, Madame Penehupifo Pohamba, First Lady of Namibia, identified the prevention of new HIV infections among children as a key objective for her new term as President of OAFLA.

Madame Pohamba noted that in most African countries, lack of male involvement in sexual and reproductive health programmes is a challenge. She urged her fellow First Ladies to launch a continent-wide campaign to encourage the participation of male partners in efforts to stop new HIV infections in children.

“Let us conduct this campaign under the theme, An HIV-free generation tomorrow needs caring men and women today,” said the Namibian First Lady. “I believe that zero HIV infections among new born babies is an achievable goal,” she added.

Mrs Ban Soon-taek, wife of the United Nations Secretary-General, highlighted in her remarks the growing momentum and support for the goal of an HIV-free generation. “Around the world, in developing and developed countries, in the North and in the South, in the streets of communities and the halls of governments, people know that no child should be born with HIV,” said Mrs Ban.

According to the latest data from UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF, there has been considerable progress over the past decade in reducing new HIV infections among children in sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 350 000 children were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in 2010 compared to about 500 000 children in 2001—a 30% reduction. An estimated 230 000 children died from AIDS-related causes in 2010, down from about 320 000 in 2005.

In his keynote address at the OAFLA General Assembly, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé applauded the First Ladies for their collective action in the HIV response across the continent. He said that through the strong leadership and advocacy of OAFLA members, 12 of 22 high burden countries in Africa had launched accelerated national plans to stop HIV transmission from mother to child. “The results of your efforts are increasingly visible and are making a difference in the lives of women, youth and children across Africa,” said Mr Sidibé.

Expressing concern over Africa’s dependency on external aid, the UNAIDS Executive Director requested the support of OAFLA members in mobilizing funding from local sources for HIV prevention, treatment and care. “Working with leaders of your countries, we need to focus all efforts on the issue of sustainable funding for the AIDS response. We must advocate for new partnerships with the private sector,” said Mr Sidibé.

According to a new UNAIDS issues brief — “AIDS dependency crisis: sourcing African solutions”—an estimated two-thirds of AIDS expenditures in Africa come from international funding sources. The vast majority of life-saving antiretroviral medicines consumed in Africa are imported from generic manufacturers.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking at the 18th annual meeting of the African Union. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Credit: UNAIDS/J.Ose

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need to anchor Africa’s development to the respect for human rights. “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a promise to all people in all places at all times,” said Mr Ban at the 18^th annual meeting of the African Union.

Mr Ban noted that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is one of the injustices that has been ignored or even sanctioned by many States. “This has prompted some governments to treat people as second-class citizens, or even criminals. Confronting this discrimination is a challenge. But we must live up to the ideals of the Universal Declaration,” said Mr Ban.

Currently, an estimated 76 countries and areas worldwide have laws that criminalize same-sex sexual relations between consenting adults––five impose the death penalty. UNAIDS considers the criminalization of people based on their sexual orientation a denial of human rights and a threat to public health in the context of the HIV response. Such discriminatory laws drive people underground and create obstacles for people accessing HIV services.

Countries such as the US and UK have already modified their provision of foreign aid to ensure that the rights of sexual minorities are being respected. These countries will use their assistance to protect human rights and advance non-discrimination, and will work with international organizations to end discrimination against gays and lesbians.

In 2009 the Delhi High Court overturned a law that criminalized consensual adult sexual behaviour. This stand was also supported by the Government of India in its affidavit filed with the Supreme Court. But not all countries are following India’s approach.

In June 2010, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the UNAIDS Secretariat, launched the Global Commission on HIV and the Law. The Commission’s aim is to increase understanding of the impact of the legal environment on national HIV responses. Its aim is to focus on how laws and law enforcement can support, rather than block, effective HIV responses.

UNAIDS urges all governments to ensure full respect for the human rights of men who have sex with men, lesbians and transgendered people through repealing laws that prohibit sexual acts between consenting adults in private; enforcing laws to protect these groups from violence and discrimination; promoting campaigns that address homophobia and transphobia; and ensuring that crucial health needs are met.