UNAIDS will be launching a new report ahead of World AIDS Day at a special event at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During a 60 minute interactive dialogue, Mr Sidibé will outline his vision and what it will take to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Mr Sidibé will be joined by Charlize Theron United Nations Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to talk about results on the ground.

The report Fast-Track: Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 lays out a set of bold, new Fast-Track targets to be reached over the next five years to ensure that the world will end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The report also outlines the numbers of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths that will be averted by meeting the targets. 

• WHEN
  • Noon – 1pm Los Angeles time (20:00 GMT), Tuesday 18 November 2014
• WHERE
  • Glorya Kaufman Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, United States of America
• WHO
  • Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS
  • Charlize Theron, United Nations Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project
  • David Gere, Professor, Director, UCLA Art & Global Health Center

Invitations     

Media interested in attending the event should contact Sophie Barton-Knott bartonknotts@unaids.org for accreditation.

Press materials

A full package of press materials including press release, factsheet, infographics and social media pack will be available on the UNAIDS website at www.unaids.org as from 20:00 GMT on Tuesday 18 November 2014.

UNAIDS Media Contacts

Global Media | Sophie Barton-Knott | +41 22 791 1697 | bartonknotts@unaids.org
 

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.

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 25 September 2014—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.

“I dream of a generation free from HIV and I know that Victoria’s support will help us to achieve this shared goal,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Her creativity, innovation and outreach will amplify our efforts and bring us one important step closer towards ending the AIDS epidemic.”

In her new role as an Ambassador for UNAIDS Mrs Beckham will work towards ensuring that all children are born free from HIV and that children and women who are living with and affected by HIV have access to medicines and care.

“This is the beginning of an important journey for me. As a woman and a mother I have a responsibility to support other women,” said Mrs Beckham. “I am proud and honoured to be working with UNAIDS in this new role to help to raise resources and awareness to support and empower women and children affected by HIV.”

In February this year Ms Beckham visited HIV clinics in Cape Town, South Africa, where she learned about the importance of antiretroviral therapy and about how children are being left behind in accessing treatment.

Antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of a mother living with HIV passing the virus to her child to below 5%. However, in 2013, one third of pregnant women living with HIV did not have access to the life-saving medicines and 240 000 children became infected with HIV.

In 2013, less than half of all children who were exposed to HIV were tested for the virus within the optimum three-month period and only 24% had access to life-saving treatment. Without treatment, half of all children born with HIV will die by the age of two and the majority will die by the age of five.

Over the past five years providing access to antiretroviral medicines for pregnant women living with HIV has helped 900 000 children to be born free from HIV. UNAIDS and partners are working to ensure that all children, everywhere are born free from HIV and have access to the medicines, care and support they need.

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.

High-level panel emphasizes fragile five-year window for rapid and massive acceleration of HIV treatment and prevention services. New agreement to reduce cost of viral load tests for HIV to below US$ 10 will improve the quality of life for millions of people on HIV treatment

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 25 September 2014—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. 

Ending the AIDS epidemic: priority for post 2015 agenda

The high-level side event took place during the 69th United Nations General Assembly and was co-convened by Ghana and Switzerland in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).  World leaders agreed that ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 was possible and must be a central agenda of the post 2015 goals.

“An AIDS-free generation is in our reach. It is our responsibility to make it happen. Nations have to unite in this common goal and act together with force of conviction,” said Didier Burkhalter, President of Switzerland. “The objective is clear: end AIDS by 2030!”

Fast Track Strategy—speed combined with location and population

This strategy calls on countries, especially those with high burden of HIV, to provide lifesaving HIV treatment and prevention services as a matter of priority to people most at risk of HIV infection in areas with high HIV prevalence and density of people living with HIV in a short window of five years. Such an approach will drastically reduce the number of new HIV infections as well as AIDS-related deaths to record low levels.

“I believe strongly that ending AIDS should be part of the post 2015 agenda,” said John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana. “This is an epidemic that no one thought we could end, but now with the progress we see we know it can be done.”

AIDS is not over in any region—30 countries account for more than 80% of new HIV infections that occur each year in the world. Within these countries, the epidemic is often concentrated in large cities, select districts and localized areas. And in each setting, the affected populations vary. A concerted push to reach the specific populations most at risk in these countries and local areas will maximize the gains in preventing new HIV infections and stopping AIDS-related deaths.

Fragile five-year window

The success of the fast-track strategy relies upon countries to frontload investments and step up the pace of delivery of HIV services, especially the roll of out of antiretroviral therapy. This strategy will see the greatest returns on investments.

“I call on countries, the private sector and civil society to seize this opportunity to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030,” said Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General. “This will require innovation, leadership and shared responsibility to ensure that no-one is left behind.”

UNAIDS, together with governments, civil society and other partners, will help countries identify the areas where fast-track delivery of HIV-related services will have the most impact.

“We have a fragile-five year window to ensure that the world is on-track to end the AIDS epidemic,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Seizing the opportunity to fast track the response to HIV will save millions of lives—the cost of inaction is unthinkable.” 

If fully implemented the fast-track approach will avert 18 million new HIV infections and 11 million deaths by 2030. This will have a huge impact on reducing the amount of investment needed for the AIDS response beyond 2020. However, UNAIDS modelling shows that if the targets for 2020 are not achieved until a decade later costs will continue to spiral upwards.

Ambitious 2020 HIV treatment and prevention targets

To get on-track, new targets will focus on closing the access gap to HIV treatment and prevention by setting new targets for 2020. These include a bold target of providing access to antiretroviral treatment by 2020. Target—90-90-90—would enable 90% of people living with HIV to know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their status to access HIV treatment and 90% of  people on HIV treatment  to achieve viral suppression.

“Thanks to the Clinton Health Access Initiative, UNAIDS, PEPFAR and the Global Fund, our negotiations secured reduction of the price of viral load testing not only for South Africa but the whole world,” said Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa. “We now have the tools we need to end the AIDS epidemic.” 

The new agreement on lowering the cost of viral load tests was announced by South Africa, the Clinton Health Initiative, UNAIDS and pharmaceutical company Roche. Viral load tests are essential to monitor the impact of HIV treatment on individuals. The high price of the viral load test is a barrier to its widespread use in low- and middle income countries. With this price reduction, these lifesaving diagnostic tools will become more widely available.

Based on consultations with global treatment experts and regional consultations, UNAIDS also released an issues brief 90-90-90 an ambitious target to help end the AIDS epidemic to support the implementation of the new 2020 HIV treatment target. This document outlines the rationale, scientific evidence and strategy to rapidly expand access to HIV treatment.

In addition to ensuring that no child is newly infected with HIV, a new target of reducing new adult HIV infections from 2.1 million in 2010 to 500 000 in 2020 and to 200 000 in 2030 is proposed. This can be achieved by combining the potential of antiretroviral therapy to prevent new HIV infections with other proven HIV prevention methods such as male and female condoms, harm reduction measures, voluntary medical male circumcision, sexual and reproductive health services and innovative social security programmes such as cash transfers.

“We need to focus on data, mutual accountability and transparency for impact, and put our weight behind HIV prevention, treatment and care interventions that work. We also need to continue setting benchmarks, and I am very pleased that PEPFAR is laser focused on achieving ambitious targets in areas of high HIV prevalence. The challenge is obviously big and obviously important,” said John Kerry, United States Secretary of State.

Zero discrimination - Leaving no one behind

Together with ambitious targets for HIV treatment and prevention, the global goal of zero discrimination needs to be reaffirmed. The success of the AIDS response is primarily due to the unflinching commitment to protecting human rights. Human rights targets are indispensable to ensure that people living with HIV do not face stigma and discrimination, marginalised populations are protected and the right to health becomes a reality.

Key populations—sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people and people who use drugs—regardless of where they live or the legal status of their behaviour need access to HIV services in close proximity that are free of stigma and discrimination.

Young women and girls in countries with high HIV prevalence need choices to mitigate their vulnerability and risk of acquiring HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence among young women and girls is higher than among their male peers.

 “When I think about ending AIDS I dream of wanting to be alive by 2030. I want to see my husband stay free from HIV and my daughter protected from HIV infection,” said Teresia Njoki Otieno, Chair of the International Community of Women Living with HIV. “I do not want to come back here in 2030 and talk about the same thing. We should end this epidemic but we can only do this if we put women living with HIV at the centre.”

AIDS by the numbers

UNAIDS is reporting the lowest levels of new HIV infections this century, at 2.1 million [1.9 million–2.4 million]. In the last three years alone new HIV infections have fallen by 13%.

It is estimated that 35 million people were living with HIV in the world at the end of 2013. AIDS-related deaths are at their lowest since the peak in 2005, having declined by 35%.

New HIV infections among children have fallen by 58% since 2001 and have now dropped below 200 000 in the 21 most affected countries in Africa.

Defining ending the AIDS epidemic

Ending the AIDS epidemic means that the spread of HIV has been controlled or contained and that the impact of the virus on societies and on people’s lives has been marginalized and lessened, owing to significant declines in ill health, stigma, deaths and the number of orphans. It also means increased life expectancy, unconditional acceptance of people’s diversity and rights, increased productivity and reduced costs as the impact of AIDS diminishes.

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.

NEW YORK, 25 September 2014—Roche today announced a major Global Access Program to sharply lower the price of HIV viral load tests in low- and middle-income countries. This new initiative creates a ceiling price of US$ 9.40 per test, and will reduce Roche’s average price by more than 40% in low- and middle-income countries.  When fully implemented, the Global Access Program is projected to save more than US$ 150 million in costs over the next five years.

By increasing access to viral load testing, this new deal will dramatically improve the quality of HIV treatment services and strengthen capacity to achieve the global goal of ensuring that 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy achieve viral suppression. The high price of viral load testing – is an important reason why less than one in four people on antiretroviral therapy currently have access to viral load testing. 

Increasing the affordability and availability of viral load testing is pivotal to hopes to end the AIDS epidemic. With the aim of laying the foundation to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, the world has embraced a new treatment target for 2020: 90% of all people living with HIV know their HIV status; 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receive antiretroviral therapy; and 90% of all people receiving HIV treatment are virally suppressed. More than 13 million people currently receive HIV treatment.

“We welcome this significant price breakthrough—the urgent call of people living with HIV is being answered. Now, with viral load testing, we can help ensure HIV treatment improves quality of life,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “I congratulate all partners for this timely agreement. It is an excellent example of public-private partnership in action and the kind of innovation needed to accelerate ending the AIDS epidemic.”

With viral load testing, doctors and nurses in developing countries can help ensure that their patients are on the right drug regimens and keep the amount of the HIV virus in their patients at ‘undetectable’ levels. This helps ensure that patients stay healthy while also preventing HIV transmission. 
The UNAIDS sponsored Diagnostics Access Initiative, launched at the International AIDS Conference in Australia in July 2014, issued a call to the global community to achieve more affordable pricing for viral load testing. Through the leadership of South Africa and in partnership with CHAI, UNAIDS, The Global Fund and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), suppliers were challenged to lower viral load prices, and Roche is the first company to step forward and offer the HIV community an access policy that will accomplish these goals. Other partners in the DAI include the World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Society for Laboratory Medicine, UNITAID, the Global Fund, PEPFAR, Clinton Health Access Initiative and UNICEF.

“We applaud all the global partners who came together to ensure that over 31 million people living with HIV/AIDS in low and middle-income countries will be able to access viral load testing at this reduced price,” said President Bill Clinton, Chairman of the Clinton Health Access Initiative. “The Clinton Health Access Initiative has partnered with South Africa in its fight against HIV for more than a decade. We are honored to work with a government that is committed to HIV treatment not only in its own borders, but around the world.”

South Africa is the largest purchaser of viral load tests in the world, and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has the largest viral load program on the continent. The NHLS worked closely with Roche and other partners to create a framework that would benefit not only the 2.5 million people on treatment in South Africa, but millions more receiving antiretroviral therapy across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

“To end the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, we will need to build on this record of success to deliver the very highest quality of HIV treatment services, as measured by the proportion of people living with HIV who have viral suppression,” said President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. “Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative and UNAIDS, South Africa has been able to significantly reduce the per-patient price of this essential diagnostic test.”

The Global Access Program continues the longstanding leadership of Roche, which has played an important role in the AIDS response.

“As the leader in HIV viral load testing, Roche supports the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goal and the Diagnostics Access Initiative by expanding access to quality HIV testing through affordable pricing to those countries hardest hit by the disease,” stated Roland Diggelmann, Chief Operating Officer of Roche Diagnostics. “With 70% of all people living with HIV residing in Sub-Saharan Africa, we believe our commitment can truly make a difference to UNAIDS’ goal for achieving control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

Leading AIDS donors welcomed the Program and pledged to effectively leverage it to scale-up viral load testing. “PEPFAR is committed to moving forward to increase use of viral load to monitor patient outcomes for PEPFAR-supported clients with the ultimate goal that all patients remain undetectable for their own health and for increasing control of the HIV pandemic,” said Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, M.D., the US Global AIDS Coordinator. “We are working on roll-out plans in partnership with countries to ensure that over the next four years all PEPFAR-supported patients and clinicians have access to accurate quality viral load data.” PEPFAR currently supports antiretroviral therapy for more than four million patients, excluding South Africa. 

“The Global Fund welcomes this new initiative,” said Global Fund Executive Director Mark Dybul. “Due in large part to the high price of available technologies, many treatment programs have yet to prioritize scale-up of viral load testing. The Roche Access Program offers an important incentive to rapidly expand access to viral load testing.”

The Clinton Health Access Initiative was founded in 2002 (then the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative) to support government partners and address the HIV/AIDS crisis in developing countries. CHAI began work in South Africa in 2003, where they supported the government in their first national HIV treatment scale-up plan. Since then, CHAI has helped South Africa save $900M on ARV costs over 4 years; supported a testing initiative that reached 15 million people over 15 months; and assisted in the scale-up of HIV treatment to more than 4,000 health facilities around the country.

The Clinton Health Access Initiative’s role in helping to structure the new viral load agreement was made possible by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), one of CHAI’s closest and most long-standing partners. DFID funds pioneering market shaping work for essential health commodities such as medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and contraceptives. This helps organizations and governments to allocate and spend their funding more efficiently and enhances access for those most in need. They also work closely with the government of South Africa and support their efforts to aggressively scale-up HIV treatment and achieve greater efficiency in HIV spending.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 180 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 3,100 Commitments to Action, which have improved the lives of over 430 million people in more than 180 countries.

CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

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.

GENEVA/ROME, 8 May 2014—UNAIDS and the UN World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation have released a new book on HIV for children.

The book, The Bravest Boy I Know, is about two friends, Kendi and Kayla. Kendi is living with HIV. The story is set in Africa and beautifully illustrated by celebrated artist Sujean Rim. It is a heart-warming tale of how the two friends deal with HIV in a positive way. The book conveys the important message that by taking medicine children living with HIV can live active and healthy lives while also explaining that the medicines can make children feel unwell and tired.

The Bravest Boy I Know was officially launched in Rome by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ambassador Dho Young-shim, Chairperson of the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation, Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Taleb D. Rifai, Secretary-General of UNWTO. It is dedicated to Mr Ban for his work in prioritizing education through the Global Education First Initiative which aims to put every child in school; improve the quality of learning; and foster global citizenship.

“Stigma and discrimination around HIV very often prevent children and families from accessing essential HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services,” said Mr Ban. “These books, which will be delivered to schools across Africa through ST-EP’s Small Libraries project, will help everyone understand that young people can live normal and fulfilling lives with HIV."

Since November 2011, the ST-EP Foundation and UNAIDS have partnered to equip all UN MDGs Thank You Small Libraries with a UNAIDS corner so that all children can learn about HIV.

“As the UN MDGs Advocate for Education, I firmly believe in the power of education to accelerate the achievement of all UN MDGs by 2015, and particularly Goal 6—aimed at HIV,” said Ambassador Dho. “This meaningful collaboration with UNAIDS is creating synergies that will have a powerful impact on the education and the health of children.”

In 2012, some 3.3 million children under 15 years old were living with HIV and 650 000 were accessing antiretroviral treatment. Increasing access to simple and effective treatment for children is one of the major challenges in the AIDS response. In 2012, just 34% of children in need had access to the lifesaving treatment.  

“As a father and a grandfather I know that reading to children can be the best way to help them understand complex issues,” said Mr Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS. “We hope that this book will encourage acceptance and openness as well as spark action to address the specific needs of children living with HIV.”

The book is available in English and French with a Portuguese version to follow. It is being released together with a factsheet on children and HIV, a discussion guide for teachers and carers as well as a narrated video of the book.

To view the full package of materials online, please go to http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/2014/20140508thebravestboyiknow/

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 to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

UNWTO ST-EP Foundation

The UNWTO ST-EP Foundation is a cornerstone of the ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty) initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) aimed to harness the power of tourism to generate new opportunities for development and empowerment in least developed and developing countries, and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. UNWTO ST-EP Foundation acts in cooperation with the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, GIZ, SNV, the Netherlands Development Organization, IUCN NL, and the Travel Foundation, etc.

MELBOURNE, 20 July 2014—In a meeting initiated by UNAIDS and hosted by the city of Melbourne, Australia, global leaders agreed that cities and local leadership are the key to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The inaugural Cities for Social Transformation meeting took place on the sidelines of the 20th International AIDS Conference. Mayors and representatives of 18 cities, governors, senior members of parliament, health ministers, a Head of State and senior health professionals attended the event.

The leaders committed to a rapid scale-up of prevention, treatment, care and support programmes, as well as addressing the needs of people at higher risk of HIV infection.

“It’s time to focus on local epidemics and city governments will be the driving force for change. They have the resources and the architecture to deliver essential social and health services,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “They are the catalyst for forging new partnerships between communities, civil society and government. We will not end the AIDS epidemic without harnessing the power of cities.”

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the President of Fiji, Nafsiah Mboi, the Health Minister of Indonesia, Powes Parkop, the Governor of Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby, Dhlomo Sibongiseni, the Health Minister of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, and Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, shared their experiences.

"It’s an honour to be hosting this inaugural cities initiative mayors’ meeting. This is an important moment because I believe the world’s cities—our cities—have a pivotal role to play in leading the HIV response … and fulfilling the vision of an HIV-free generation,” said the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

Current data show that 15 countries account for 75% of global HIV infections, with the majority found in urban centres. It is estimated that 220 cities globally account for over a third of HIV prevalence. In the Asia and the Pacific region, 30 cities account for over a million people living with HIV.

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 to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us onFacebook and Twitter.

MELBOURNE, 21 July 2014—Ten exceptional community-based organizations have won the 2014 Red Ribbon Award for their inspiring work in reducing the impact of the AIDS epidemic. They were presented with the prestigious prize in a special session at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) in Melbourne, Australia. The Red Ribbon Award is the world’s leading award for innovative and outstanding community work in the response to the AIDS epidemic.

Community-based organizations have shown the world how to mobilize for change in the AIDS response and the Red Ribbon Award recognizes their transformative achievements.

“In villages and townships across the globe, communities have taken matters into their own hands and come up with innovative solutions to what often appear as insurmountable problems in the AIDS response,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “I congratulate the winners of the Red Ribbon Award 2014 for their courage, determination and dedication. Their leadership and cutting-edge thinking have brought us to where we are today.”

The 2014 winning organizations are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). Almost 1000 nominations from more than 120 countries were received by the Red Ribbon Award secretariat, which is hosted by UNAIDS in partnership with other United Nations organizations, AIDS 2014, the Global Network of People Living with HIV, the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations and Irish Aid. A global panel of civil society representatives selected the finalists from a shortlist determined by regional panels. Each of the winning organizations will receive a US$ 10 000 grant and have been invited to participate in AIDS 2014.

At the Red Ribbon Award special session, the winners were congratulated by Epeli Nailatikau, President of Fiji, Nafsiah Mboi, Minister of Health of Indonesia, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Vice Minister of Health of Brazil, Dame Carol Kidu, former Member of Parliament of Papua New Guinea and Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, UNAIDS.

President Nailatikau said, “This award honours the incredible innovation taking place at the grass roots. I am proud to give this award to organizations whose actions in the communities they serve truly make a huge difference to people affected by HIV.”

The Red Ribbon Award was first presented in 2006 and since then has been handed out every two years at the International AIDS Conference. This year there were five award categories. The 10 winners are listed below by category.

Category one: Prevention of sexual transmission

Action pour la Lutte contre l’Ignorance du SIDA (ALCIS) is a community-based organization founded in 1999 to prevent sexual transmission of HIV among young people and men who have sex with men in the context of sex work. It is the only organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to organize sex workers and men who have sex with men into solidarity committees that represent a collective and cooperative entity.

Marsa Sexual Health Centre provides marginalized sexually active young people, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) and people living with HIV full access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Category two: Prevention among/by people who use drugs

Ehyaye Hayyate Sarmad is best known for its Red Ribbon Prison, which has provided treatment for drug users and organized workshops on sexual and reproductive health. Ehyaye Hayyate Sarmad is one of the first organizations in the Islamic Republic of Iran to work in the field of harm reduction and HIV in the prison system.

Dristi provides services and support to women who use drugs in Nepal. The organization is run by women who are former drug users and is dedicated to reducing the harmful impact of drug use through advocacy, treatment and support. 

Category three: Treatment, care and support

Life Concern Organization (LICO) helps to improve the health and development of marginalized and vulnerable populations in Malawi. Since February 2009, LICO has worked to empower and lead an engaged community that can make informed decisions in the Rumphi district of northern Malawi. 

Cherkassy Regional Branch of All-Ukrainian Network of PLWHA started as a self-help group to support the HIV-positive community. Over the past 12 years, the organization has worked to create systematic change at the regional level and to improve the quality of life through treatment, diagnosis and accompaniment for people living with HIV.

Category four: Advocacy and human rights

Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is dedicated to the eradication of homophobia in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean. SASOD has worked to repeal discriminatory Guyanese laws, change local attitudes about the LGBTI community and end discrimination in the government, workplace and community.

Perssaudaraan Korban Napza Indonesia (PKNI) is a leading national network representing the common priorities of 25 self-organized drug user groups across 19 provinces in Indonesia. PKNI was established in 2006 to address stigma, violence, discrimination and violations of human rights towards people who use drugs.

Category five: Stopping new HIV infections among children and keeping mothers alive, women’s health

Girl Child Counseling Women’s Group is a grass-roots women’s group that focuses on bringing together all community members to address the high rate of new HIV infections among women of childbearing age in Matunda, Kenya. The group vision is “A HIV free generation in the Matunda location.”

AC Mujeres Unidas por la Salud was created as a nongovernmental organization in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in 2003 and is led by 35 women. Over the past years it has become an organization of reference at the national level for women living with HIV as a result of their efforts. It provides spaces where women can receive counselling, information and support.

For further information about this year’s winners and the Red Ribbon Award, please see the Red Ribbon Award website at www.redribbonaward.org.

The 2014 Red Ribbon Award on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redribbon2014/timeline

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2014RedRibbon

About the Sponsors

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 to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us onFacebook and Twitter.

UN partners

The UN partners involved in the Red Ribbon Award initiative bring together the efforts and resources of all UNAIDS Cosponsors and the UNAIDS Secretariat.

AIDS 2014

The XX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance for stakeholders to take stock of where the epidemic is, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. AIDS 2014 will be held in Melbourne, Australia from 20 to 25 July 2014. (www.aids2014.org). The International AIDS Society is the convener and custodian of the conference.

Global Network of People Living with HIV

GNP+ is the global network for and by people living with HIV. GNP+ advocates to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Driven by the needs of people living with HIV worldwide, GNP+ supports people living with HIV through their organizations and networks. GNP+ works to ensure equitable access to health and social services, by focusing on social justice, rights and more meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in programme and policy development – the GIPA principle. (www.gnpplus.net)

International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS

ICW Global emerged to look for answers facing the desperate lack of support, information and services available for women living with HIV. The organization promotes the leadership and involvement of women living with HIV in spaces where policies and programmes are developed and implemented and where the decisions that affect the life of thousands of people who live with the virus are made. The vision is for a just world where women living with HIV are leaders in HIV programmes and policy and realize their universal rights. They dream of a world where women, young women, girls, adolescents living with HIV have full access to care and treatment and enjoy all of their rights: sexual, reproductive, legal, economic and health, regardless of culture, age, religion, sexuality, race or socio-economic status. (www.icwglobal.org)

International Council of AIDS Service Organizations

Founded in 1991, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations’ (ICASO) mission is to mobilize and support diverse community organizations to build an effective global response to end AIDS. This is done within a vision of a world where people living with and affected by HIV can enjoy life free from stigma, discrimination, and persecution, and have access to prevention, treatment and care. The ICASO network operates globally, regionally and locally, and reaches over 100 countries internationally. (www.icaso.org)

Irish Aid

Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland's programme of assistance to developing countries. Its aid philosophy is rooted in Ireland's foreign policy, in particular its objectives of peace and justice. The international development policy "One World, One Future" reflects Ireland's longstanding commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations and is inseparable from Irish foreign policy as a whole. The Irish Aid programme has as its absolute priority the reduction of poverty, inequality and exclusion in developing countries, with a strong geographic focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Improving access to quality essential social services such as health, education, services related to HIV and AIDS, and social protection is seen as key to the realisation of human rights, the reduction of poverty, hunger and inequality and the promotion of inclusive economic growth. (http://www.irishaid.gov.ie)

About the Red Ribbon Award

The red ribbon is a global symbol in the movement to address AIDS. The Red Ribbon Award, presented every two years at the International AIDS Conference, is designed to honor and celebrate community based organizations for their outstanding initiatives that show leadership in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS. The award is a joint effort of the UNAIDS family and as such, this year it will place particular emphasis on the organization's newly approved global priority areas of action.

The Red Ribbon Award was first given in 2006 and has recognized 85 organizations from over 50 different countries since then as leading community-based responses to AIDS. Such organizations lie at the heart of the response to the AIDS epidemic – displaying extraordinary courage, resilience and strength in addressing one of the greatest challenges of our time. Using creative and sustainable ways to promote prevention of sexual transmission, and prevention among people who use drugs, provide treatment, care, and support to people living with HIV and demonstrating innovation in the face of stigma and discrimination through advocacy and human rights, and stopping new HIV infections in children and keeping mothers alive, and taking care of women’s health, these examples of community leadership are showing us in practical terms how to reverse a global epidemic – one community at a time.

In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status are on treatment—ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 will require smart scale-up to close the gap 

GENEVA, 16 July 2014—A new report by UNAIDS shows that 19 million of the 35 million people living with HIV globally do not know their HIV-positive status.  

“Whether you live or die should not depend on access to an HIV test,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Smarter scale-up is needed to close the gap between people who know their HIV status and people who don’t, people who can get services and people who can’t and people who are protected and people who are punished.”

The UNAIDS Gap report shows that as people find out their HIV-positive status they will seek life-saving treatment. In sub-Saharan Africa, almost 90% of people who tested positive for HIV went on to access antiretroviral therapy (ART). Research shows that in sub-Saharan Africa, 76% of people on ART have achieved viral suppression, whereby they are unlikely to transmit the virus to their sexual partners. New data analysis demonstrates that for every 10% increase in treatment coverage there is a 1% decline in the percentage of new infections among people living with HIV.

The report highlights that efforts to increase access to ART are working. In 2013, an additional 2.3 million people gained access to the life-saving medicines. This brings the global number of people accessing ART to nearly 13 million by the end of 2013. Based on past scale-up, UNAIDS projects that as of July 2014 as many as 13 950 296 people were accessing ART.

“If we accelerate all HIV scale-up by 2020, we will be on track to end the epidemic by 2030,” said Mr Sidibé. “If not, we risk significantly increasing the time it would take—adding a decade, if not more.” 

By ending the epidemic by 2030, the world would avert 18 million new HIV infections and 11.2 million AIDS-related deaths between 2013 and 2030.

Ending the AIDS epidemic

The report reveals that just 15 countries* account for more than 75% of the 2.1 million new HIV infections that occurred in 2013. In every region of the world the report finds that there are three or four countries that bear the burden of the epidemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, just three countries—Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda—account for 48% of all new HIV infections.

However, the report also shows that entire countries are being left behind—for example, six nations—Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Nigeria, Russian Federation and South Sudan—are facing the triple threat of high HIV burden, low treatment coverage and no or little decline in new HIV infections.

In the first report of its kind, the UNAIDS Gap report emphasizes the importance of location and population through an in-depth regional analysis of HIV epidemics and through analysis of 12 populations at higher risk of HIV. It analyses the reasons for the widening gap between people gaining access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and people being left behind. It shows how focusing on populations that are underserved and at higher risk of HIV will be key to ending the AIDS epidemic.

HIV prevalence is estimated to be 28 times higher among people who inject drugs, 12 times higher among sex workers, 19 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men and up to 49 times higher among transgender women than among the rest of the adult population. In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women account for one in four new HIV infections. The report looks at why certain populations are not accessing HIV services and outlines the urgent need to address their specific needs.

“There will be no ending AIDS without putting people first, without ensuring that people living with and affected by the epidemic are part of a new movement,” said Mr Sidibé. “Without a people-centred approach, we will not go far in the post-2015 era.”

The report shows that it is both essential and possible to go deeper than a country-wide approach. Because countries and regions have multiple and varying epidemics, the report outlines that having country targets and sound policies in place creates space to address complex micro-epidemics with tailored, bite-sized solutions that will help reach people faster with better HIV services. It notes that cities and communities will play an increasingly major role in effective scale-up.

However, the report also shows that a lack of data on people most affected by HIV, coupled with widespread stigma and discrimination, punitive legal environments, barriers to civil society engagement and lack of investment in tailored programmes are holding back results. It confirms that countries that ignore discrimination and condone inequalities will not reach their full potential, and face serious public health and financial consequences of inaction. The report emphasizes the need for equal access to quality HIV services as both a human rights and public health imperative.

Hope and gaps

UNAIDS is reporting the lowest levels of new HIV infections this century, at 2.1 million [1.9 million–2.4 million]. In the last three years alone new HIV infections have fallen by 13%.

It is estimated that 35 million people were living with HIV in the world at the end of 2013. AIDS-related deaths are at their lowest since the peak in 2005, having declined by 35%. Tuberculosis continues to be the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.

New HIV infections among children have fallen by 58% since 2001 and dropped below 200 000 for the first time in the 21 most affected countries in Africa.

The highest number of people living with HIV was in sub-Saharan Africa—24.7 million [23.5 million–26.1 million] people. Asia and the Pacific had the next largest population of people living with HIV, at an estimated 4.8 million [4.1 million–5.5 million] people.

The percentage of people living with HIV who were receiving treatment was found to be highest in western Europe and North America, at 51% [39–60%], and in Latin America, at 45% [33–51%]. However, coverage was lowest in the Middle East and North Africa, at just 11% [8–16%].

New HIV infections declined most in the Caribbean—by 40% since 2005; however, new HIV infections have risen by 7% in the Middle East and North Africa and by 5% in eastern Europe and central Asia since 2005.

AIDS-related deaths were seen to be rising steeply in the Middle East and North Africa, by 66%. The only other region where AIDS-related deaths are increasing is eastern Europe and central Asia, where AIDS-related deaths rose by 5% between 2005 and 2013.

The report outlines that to close the gap between people who are reached with HIV services and people who are not will require research and innovation combined with protective laws that promote freedom and equality for all people. It will also require increased commitment from the global community and countries most affected to the remarkable returns on investment that have been witnessed over the last 10 years to continue so that the end of the AIDS epidemic can be achieved by 2030.

UNAIDS is providing video footage (broll and video news release) for broadcasters, as well as excerpts from the report launch press conference. http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/2014/2014gapreport/videofootage/

*Brazil, Cameroon, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Russian Federation, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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.

HIV treated as other chronic conditions in immigration health assessment.

GENEVA, 10 July 2014—UNAIDS welcomes confirmation from the Government of Australia that people living with HIV do not face an automatic exclusion, or unequal treatment when applying for entry, stay or residence visas. People living with HIV are treated similarly to other people with chronic health conditions and disabilities during the country’s immigration health assessment process. Applications for visas from people living with HIV will be assessed against criteria applying to anyone with a chronic health condition.

The announcement came ahead of the 20th International AIDS Conference, which will take place in Melbourne, Australia, from 20 to 25 July 2014.

“People living with HIV need equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from today’s globalized world, where migration is increasingly important. Eliminating travel restrictions is not only a human right for individuals, it improves business prospects for communities,” said the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé.

UNAIDS advocates for the right to equal freedom of movement, regardless of HIV status. There is no evidence that restrictions on the entry, stay or residence of people living with HIV protect the public’s health. In 2012, more than 40 chief executives from some of the world’s largest companies signed a pledge opposing HIV restrictions, calling them discriminatory and bad for business.

As part of its ongoing dialogue with countries on this issue, UNAIDS has sent communications to all countries, territories and areas that appear to have HIV-related entry, stay and residence restrictions, and has raised the issue during official high-level visits. Australia has made important reforms to its migration health assessment requirements and procedures since the conclusion of a parliamentary inquiry on migration and disability in 2010, including an annual increase to the “significant cost threshold”, the elimination of the cost assessment related to health services for humanitarian visa applicants and improvements to increase the transparency of the health assessment process. These reforms were assessed against the criteria outlined by the International Task Team on HIV-related Travel Restrictions, co-chaired by the Government of Norway and UNAIDS,  and it was concluded that Australia had met the task team’s standard.

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 to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

GENEVA, 4 July 2014—The 34th meeting of UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board has concluded in Geneva after three days of discussions and debate. The importance of ensuring the inclusion of HIV in the post-2015 sustainable development goals, ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and social protection were topics high on the agenda.

During the meeting, the UNAIDS Board members recognized the value of the lessons learned from the Joint Programme’s unique approach to enhancing strategic coherence, coordination, results-based focus and country-level impact. The Board also called on UNAIDS and United Nations Member States to pursue a clear commitment in the post-2015 development agenda to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. The Board stressed that ending the AIDS epidemic would be provisionally defined as the reduction of new HIV infections, stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV and key populations, and AIDS-related deaths by 90% compared to 2010 levels.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé presented his report to the Board and encouraged Board members to develop new and unconventional ways of thinking and approaches to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. “This is a singular opportunity to set an ambitious course that will ensure that we have the political space and resources to get the job done,” he said.

At the meeting which took place from 1 to 3 July 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland, Board members were joined for the opening session by Sir Andrew Witty, Chief Executive of GlaxoSmithKline who talked about developing new medicines and the need for customised solutions, and Mr Subhanu Saxena, Chief Executive Officer of Indian generics manufacturer Cipla, who stressed the importance of innovation and the need to increase access to generic medicines.

The meeting concluded with a full-day thematic segment on social protection. Speakers included people living with HIV and from key populations at higher risk of HIV, members of civil society, government representatives and health and development experts who talked about the urgent need to address the social and economic drivers of HIV through social protection measures including financial incentives such as cash transfers, pension schemes, housing and lower cost transport options.

Participants and observers from UN Member States, international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations attended the meeting, which was chaired by Australia with Zimbabwe as vice chair. The Board elected El Salvador as rapporteur for 2014.

UNAIDS Executive Director’s report to the Board, and the Board’s decisions from the meeting can be found at www.unaids.org