GENEVA, 26 February 2015—Discrimination continues to affect the lives of millions of people around the world. On 1 March, Zero Discrimination Day, people from all corners of the world will unite under the theme of Open Up, Reach Out in order to celebrate diversity and reject discrimination in all its forms.

The support garnered for Zero Discrimination Day has created a global movement of solidarity to end discrimination, which remains widespread. Millions of women and girls in every region of the world experience violence and abuse and are unable to exercise their rights or gain access to health-care services, education or employment. Discrimination at work, school and health-care and other settings reduces people’s ability to participate fully and meaningfully in societies and provide and care for themselves and their families. Globally, there are almost 80 countries that still have laws criminalizing same-sex sexual relations. Some 38 countries, territories and areas impose some form of restriction on the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV. Furthermore, legal and social environments are still failing to address stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and those most vulnerable to HIV infection.    

“Discrimination is a violation of human rights and must not go unchallenged,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “Everyone has the right to live with respect and dignity.”

For this year’s Zero Discrimination Day people have been invited to Open Up, Reach Out, using social media channels to tell the world what zero discrimination means to them. People have shared songs, poems, thoughts and activities inspired by the butterfly, the transformative symbol of the campaign. People are also calling on their governments to make greater efforts to realize and protect human rights and eliminate discrimination.

“Some of the world’s most challenging problems can be solved simply by eliminating stigma and discrimination,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “As we collectively strive for a fairer world we can be encouraged by the enthusiasm for achieving zero discrimination.”

Among celebrities supporting the campaign are UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador David Luiz, who posted a special message on standing up to racism, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Toumani Diabaté and his son, Sidiki Diabaté, as well as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Ambassador and Sri Lankan cricketing star, Kumar Sangakkara, whose message is being played on screens at venues hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. Governments, lawmakers and business leaders have also pledged their support to the campaign.

Events to mark Zero Discrimination Day include photo exhibitions in China, dancing in Gabon, concerts in Madagascar, a storytelling event for children in Mongolia and special film screenings in Nepal. Seminars and workshops to discuss issues relating to stigma and discrimination will take place in more than 20 countries worldwide, from Colombia to Uzbekistan.

Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated on 1 March 2014.

More information is available at:

http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/20150204_zerodiscrimination

https://www.facebook.com/zerodiscrimination

#zerodiscrimination

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.

UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, PEPFAR, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and youth movements represented by PACT and Y+ join President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch All In, a new platform for action against the adolescent AIDS epidemic.

NAIROBI, 17 February 2015—While major advances have been made in almost every area of the response to HIV, progress for adolescents is falling behind, said leaders in the global response to end the AIDS epidemic.

AIDS has become the leading cause of death for adolescents in Africa and the second leading cause of death among adolescents globally. Just one in four children and adolescents under the age of 15 have access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment. Deaths are declining in all age groups, except among 10–19 year olds.

New HIV infections among adolescents are not declining as quickly as among other age groups. Adolescent girls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are most affected. In South Africa in 2013, more than 860 girls became infected with HIV every week, compared to 170 boys.

To address this inequity, UNAIDS, UNICEF and partners have launched All In, a new platform for action to drive better results for adolescents by encouraging strategic changes in policy and engaging more young people in the effort.

Leaders from around the world met today in Nairobi, Kenya, where President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the new platform, which will help address one of the most pressing gaps in the AIDS response. 

“By including adolescents in decision-making processes that have a direct effect on their lives, this initiative will be a catalyst for change,” said President Kenyatta. “Kenya is proud to support this new initiative.”

All In focuses on four key action areas: engaging, mobilizing and empowering adolescents as leaders and actors of social change; improving data collection to better inform programming; encouraging innovative approaches to reach adolescents with essential HIV services adapted to their needs; and placing adolescent HIV firmly on political agendas to spur concrete action and mobilize resources.

“AIDS is the leading cause of death among adolescents in Africa. Globally, two thirds of all new infections among adolescents were among adolescent girls. This is a moral injustice,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I am calling on young people to lead the All In movement, alongside the United Nations, public and private partners, and countries themselves, to end the adolescent AIDS epidemic.”

Most of the 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV in 2013 became infected at least 10 years ago, when their mothers were pregnant, during delivery or in the first months of life—at a time when antiretroviral medicines that can greatly reduce the possibility of HIV transmission were not available. Many were never diagnosed, lost to follow-up or fell out of treatment and care programmes.

“Children and young people should be the first to benefit from the progress we have made in ending the epidemic, not the last,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We need to reach the adolescents we are missing and engage all young people in the effort to end adolescent AIDS. In fact, we cannot achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation without them.”

More than 200 young advocates and leaders from adolescent and youth movements were present at the launch of All In.

“We can’t talk about ending AIDS or getting to zero without including adolescents in every decision-making platform,” said Consolata Opiyo, from Y+, the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV. “Adolescents are the group most affected by HIV and they are tomorrow’s leaders.”

“We can’t say that we are on the right track to end AIDS if it continues being the main cause of death for adolescents in Africa,” said Pablo Aguilera, Executive Director of the HIV Young Leaders Fund and Co-Chair of the PACT. “We must ensure that no adolescent is left behind.”

Since the HIV status of many children went undiagnosed 10 to 15 years ago, they are now entering adolescence unaware that they are living with the virus, with limited opportunities for HIV detection and referral to treatment programmes.

Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, said, “The future of sub-Saharan Africa rests in the health and well-being of the youth. We’re committed to working with partner countries and others to close the health gap that leaves adolescent girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.”

“I warmly welcome this launch of the All In initiative as an innovative way to tackle a stubborn stronghold of HIV infection,” said Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

The All In platform for action aims to increase the meaningful participation of adolescents in decision-making processes and strengthen youth-led social movements. The campaign will also identify opportunities to link adolescent HIV strategies into existing adolescent health and development programmes. In addition, All In will engage national leaders to coordinate, support and lead assessments of existing programmes and expand partnerships for innovation between the public and private sectors.

“We need to meet adolescents where they are and address the challenges they face,” said Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. “UNFPA is All In to protect their human rights and sexual and reproductive health, and prevent and treat HIV.”

All In will aim to reach adolescents with HIV services designed for their specific needs and realities and to fast-track progress among an age group critical to advancing global efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

“We can expand opportunity by getting everyone to recognize the seriousness of HIV, and how to end it,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The next five years are crucial. UNAIDS has set new Fast-Track Targets to be achieved by 2020 for adolescents that include reducing new HIV infections by at least 75%, reducing AIDS-related deaths by 65% and achieving zero discrimination. Achieving the targets would put the world on track towards ending adolescent AIDS by 2030 and ending the global AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.   

All In to #EndAdolescentAIDS
All In to #EndAdolescentAIDS is a platform for action and collaboration to inspire a social movement to drive better results for adolescents through critical changes in programmes and policy. It aims to unite actors across sectors to accelerate reductions in AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections among adolescents by 2020, towards ending the AIDS epidemic for all by 2030. It is convened by a leadership group that includes UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and PEPFAR, as well as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and the adolescent and youth movement represented by the HIV Young Leaders Fund on behalf of the PACT and Y+. 

UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org. Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook.

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. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Ahead of the African Union Summit, former Presidents of Malawi, Mali, Nigeria and South Africa are among the new Champions committing to Fast-Tracking access to HIV prevention and treatment services in sub-Saharan Africa.

JOHANNESBURG/GABORONE, Botswana, 23 January 2015—Today, the Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation (Champions) announced that four leaders are joining their distinguished ranks.

The new Champions are: Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of South Africa; Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi; Alpha Oumar Konaré, former President of Mali; and Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria.

“We are thrilled to welcome these respected leaders, who have championed the AIDS response in their countries and on the continent,” said Festus Mogae, Chairperson of the Champions. “Now, more than ever, Africa must Fast-Track the AIDS response if we are to end the epidemic by 2030.”

Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation was first launched in 2008 by Festus Mogae, the former President of Botswana. The Champions programme works to ensure that all children are born free from HIV in Africa and that all people have access to quality HIV prevention and treatment services. 

“We have seen tremendous progress in each of our countries and we will continue to work across Africa to ensure that all babies are born free from HIV and that their mothers can remain healthy,” said Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, former Vice-President of Uganda. “We welcome the new Champions into the programme, and together we shall support Africa to play its leadership role for an AIDS-free generation.”

“I am very happy to be joining the Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation,” said former President Motlanthe. “We are committed to accelerating our response to the epidemic so that we can end AIDS as a public health threat across the continent by 2030.”

The Champions is a distinguished group of former presidents and influential African leaders committed to an AIDS-free generation. Individually and collectively the Champions rally and support regional leaders towards ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat. The Champions transcend political partisanship to speak freely and independently about the issues that need solutions, both publically and behind the scenes.

“Through the Champions we can harness the wisdom and courage of great leaders who have changed countless lives by breaking the silence about AIDS,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

Since 2009, there has been a 43% decline in new HIV infections among children in the 21 priority countries of the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive in Africa. There were 210 000 [180 000–250 000] new HIV infections among children in sub-Saharan Africa in 2013.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected by the AIDS epidemic. In 2013, there were 24.7 million [23.5 million–26.1 million] people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Champions are:

• Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and Chairperson of the Champions.
• Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi.
• Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique.
• Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia.
• Alpha Oumar Konaré, former President of Mali. 
• Benjamin William Mkapa, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
• Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of South Africa.
• Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria.
• Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, former Vice-President of Uganda. 
• Edwin Cameron, Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
• Miriam Were, former Chairperson of the Kenya National AIDS Control Council.

Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation

The Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation is a distinguished group of former presidents and influential African leaders committed to an AIDS-free generation. Individually and collectively, the Champions rally and support regional leaders towards ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat. The Champions transcend political partisanship to speak freely and independently about the issues that need solutions, both publically and behind the scenes. www.aidsfreechampions.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, 12 December 2014—The 35th meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board reaffirmed its commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and encouraged United Nations Member States to push for this goal to be fully reflected in the final agreement on the post-2015 development agenda.

During the meeting, UNAIDS Board members recognized the value of the Joint Programme’s experience in relation to multisectoral collaboration, issue-specific partnership and the inclusive governance model, in particular the participation of civil society. Board members agreed that this UNAIDS model was relevant for the United Nations system’s response to a post-2015 development agenda that leaves no one behind.

Urging action towards the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, the Board noted compelling evidence to Fast-Track the AIDS response over the next five years. To accelerate action and investment, the Board requested UNAIDS to update and extend its strategy through 2016–2021.

Board members called on states to take steps to implement the 90–90–90 treatment strategy, to set ambitious targets for HIV prevention and to reduce stigma and discrimination among people seeking HIV services. The Board highlighted the particular need to improve treatment options for children living with HIV, which are currently significantly lacking.

The UNAIDS Board emphasized the need to support low- and middle-income countries to scale up access to essential HIV treatment. They also urged UNAIDS to support low- and middle-income countries to leverage existing flexibilities in international trade agreements to improve access to treatment and to review current national patent laws.

Presenting his report to the Board, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, underlined the importance of accelerating the AIDS response. “We are at a pivotal moment. We need to mobilize political commitment, identify approaches that accelerate action and focus global efforts and resources on doing the right thing.”

The meeting concluded with a full-day thematic segment on halving HIV transmission among people who inject drugs. Participants underlined the critical need for renewed efforts to reduce transmission of HIV and hepatitis C among people who inject drugs, towards the 2030 goal of ending the AIDS epidemic.

Participants and observers from United Nations Member States, international organizations, civil society and nongovernmental organizations attended the meeting, which was chaired by Australia, with Zimbabwe as Vice-Chair and El Salvador as Rapporteur. The Board elected Zimbabwe as Chair, with Switzerland as Vice-Chair and Ukraine as Rapporteur for 2015.

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.

On World AIDS Day, mayors meet in Paris as UNAIDS releases a new report on the huge potential of fast-tracking the AIDS response in cities

PARIS/GENEVA, 1 December 2014—On World AIDS Day 2014, mayors from around the world came together in Paris, France, to sign a declaration to end the AIDS epidemic in their cities. In signing the 2014 Paris Declaration, the mayors commit to putting cities on the Fast-Track to ending the AIDS epidemic through a set of commitments. Those commitments include achieving the UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets, which will result in 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status on antiretroviral treatment and 90% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads, keeping them healthy and reducing the risk of HIV transmission.

“Ending the AIDS epidemic is achievable if the world’s major cities act immediately and decisively to fast-track their AIDS responses by 2020,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “A Fast-Track AIDS response in cities will also encourage new, cutting-edge service delivery programmes that can pave the way for cities to address other public health challenges, including tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, gender-based violence and noncommunicable diseases.”

At the World AIDS Day event in Paris, hosted by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, the mayors joined the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) in signing the Paris Declaration. “Cities all over the world are key players that can fast-track the response in order to ultimately end the AIDS epidemic,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris. “Our duty is above all a human one. As elected representatives, our choice is to demonstrate solidarity. In Paris, we are determined to take our responsibilities and to live up to our commitments.”

The meeting is taking place 20 years after the Paris AIDS Summit, at which world leaders and communities agreed to a set of principles for the greater involvement of people living with HIV. Known as the GIPA principles, the historic commitment continues to guide the global AIDS response today.

During the event, UNAIDS released a report on HIV in cities, which outlines the important role that urban areas will play in ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The OUTLOOK: cities report shows how cities and urban areas are particularly affected by HIV, with the 200 cities most affected by the epidemic estimated to account for more than a quarter of the 35 million people living with HIV around the world. In many countries, cities are home to more than half of all people living with HIV across the country. In sub-Saharan Africa, 45% of people living with HIV reside in cities.

According to the report, more than half the world’s population lives in cities, with the proportion set to expand to 60% by 2050. The vast majority of megacities, defined as having populations of more than 10 million people, will be in low- and middle-income countries. Fast-tracking HIV responses in cities—without neglecting efforts in rural and other areas—will therefore be crucial to ending the AIDS epidemic.

The 2014 Paris Declaration includes commitments to focus on the communities most affected by HIV, to mobilize resources for the better integration of public health and development, to build and accelerate urban HIV strategies and to use the AIDS response as a catalyst for positive social transformation.

“Cities provide ready, flexible and creative platforms that can contribute to ending the AIDS epidemic in a pragmatic, balanced and efficient way,” said Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “Cities can act as the fora where the linkages, trust, respect and inclusiveness that are part of any sustainable solution can be built.”

The Cities report shares the city photography of renowned photographer Richard Silver. It also features testimonies from community activists, health workers and public officials who have been at the forefront of the AIDS response in the world’s cities. Their stories show how the same urban centres that have been most affected by HIV from the beginning of the epidemic are now uniquely positioned to end the AIDS epidemic. It also highlights the importance of ensuring that people who are marginalized and often stigmatized—including sex workers, people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men—have access to HIV prevention and treatment services.

Tackling poverty and inequality will also be essential. Globally, an estimated 1 billion people live in poverty, with access to only a few services. Poverty and inequality are further tested by multiple health challenges, including HIV and related diseases, such as tuberculosis, the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.

“We must seize this moment of unprecedented scientific opportunity to rapidly reduce the number of new HIV infections and end AIDS-related deaths, without ignoring significant barriers to achieving the 90–90–90 targets in cities, including stigma and discrimination,” said José M. Zuniga, President/CEO of IAPAC. “Achieving these targets requires thinking globally and acting locally, leveraging existing city programmes and resources and implementing locally relevant, locally tailored and locally led interventions to address HIV prevention, testing and treatment gaps.”

Ending the AIDS epidemic in the world’s cities will require leaders who can inspire and harness the compassion and generosity of ordinary urban citizens in order to bring about lasting change. It will depend upon energized communities accelerating and sharpening the focus of local AIDS responses and sharing best practices across urban centres.  

In addition to the 90–90–90 targets, UNAIDS also calls for reducing the annual number of new adult HIV infections by more than 75%, to 500 000 in 2020, and achieving zero discrimination. UNAIDS estimates that reaching the 90–90–90 Fast-Track Targets will prevent almost 28 million new HIV infections and 21 million deaths by 2030.

Mairie de Paris
Paris, the capital of the French Republic, has been committed to the AIDS response for more than 30 years through its associations, doctors, hospitals and political leaders. Paris also provides € 2 million each year in funding for international assistance for HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. For more information go to paris.fr/english

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.

UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat is the United Nations agency working on sustainable urban development with the mandate of promoting adequate housing and improved livelihoods by harnessing the opportunities that urbanization offers. For more information visit unhabitat.org

IAPAC

The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) represents more than 20 000 clinicians and allied health care professionals in over 150 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services provided to men, women, and children affected by and living with HIV and comorbid conditions such as tuberculosis and viral hepatitis. Visit www.iapac.org for more information about IAPAC, the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, and/or its other global activities.

The First Ladies of Africa call on governments and communities to ensure that all babies in Africa are born and stay free of HIV.

GENEVA, 26 November 2014—Ahead of World AIDS Day 2014, the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have launched a campaign to stop new HIV infections among children and ensure that their mothers stay healthy. The campaign was launched in association with the African Broadcast Media Partnership.

“Many countries are giving us hope that we can end the AIDS epidemic on the African continent and around the world,” said the First Lady of the Republic of Chad and President of OAFLA, Hinda Deby Itno. “We must continue to intensify our efforts, as too many children in Africa are born with HIV every day. The prosperity of our continent depends on a healthy generation.”

In recent years, country-led movements in sub-Saharan Africa have resulted in a significant decrease in new HIV infections among children. An estimated 210 000 children in sub-Saharan Africa were newly infected with HIV in 2013 compared to 370 000 in 2009, a decline of 43%.

Coverage of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the region reached 68%, up from 56% in 2011. Despite this progress, there is still a need to strengthen community-led HIV responses in order to ensure universal access to life-saving medicines for both mothers and their children, as in 2013 only 22% of children had access to the medicines.

“The First Ladies of Africa have started a powerful movement to ensure that no more babies are born with HIV in Africa,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.” We must fast-track our efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. There is no greater return than investing in the health and development of a nation.”

The First Ladies’ broadcast and social media campaign reinforces the need for strong leadership, shared responsibility and concerted community action to stop new HIV infections among children. The First Ladies’ call for active community involvement, including women living with HIV and their partners, policy-makers and health-care providers, to achieve the targets set out in the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.

Launched at the 2011 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS, the Global Plan identified 22 priority countries—21 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa—in which to redouble efforts to reduce the number of children born with HIV by 90% by 2015.

The campaign also aims to increase access to antiretroviral therapy for children. As of 2013, Botswana was the only priority country that was providing treatment to more than 80% of children living with HIV, while three other countries reached more than 40% treatment coverage for children under 15 years in 2013.

The campaign will be broadcast over 150 radio stations and more than 100 TV stations across 38 countries in Africa over the next 12 months. It will also be launched on several social media outlets to reach communities beyond the African continent.

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.

OAFLA

The Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) was established in 2002 as a collective voice for Africa’s most vulnerable people, women and children infected and affected by the HIV pandemic. Since then, OAFLA has transformed itself from a forum of ideas to an institution capable of providing the continent-wide leadership needed to bring about change in peoples’ lives. With its permanent secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, OAFLA has moved from addressing the symptoms of the HIV crisis to the root causes, poverty and the overall inequality of women in the region. For more information, visit www.oafla.org.

If the world does not rapidly scale up in the next five years, the epidemic is likely to spring back with a higher rate of new HIV infections than today

GENEVA/LOS ANGELES, 18 November 2014—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has announced that taking a Fast-Track approach over the next five years will allow the world to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The new UNAIDS report Fast-Track: ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 outlines, that by taking the Fast-Track approach nearly 28 million new HIV infections and 21 million AIDS-related deaths would be averted by 2030. 

“We have bent the trajectory of the epidemic,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Now we have five years to break it for good or risk the epidemic rebounding out of control.” 

The report was launched at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), during an event hosted by David Gere, Director, UCLA Art & Global Health Center. The Executive Director of UNAIDS was joined by special guest Charlize Theron, United Nations Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.

Fast-Track Targets

The new set of targets that would need to be reached by 2020 include achieving 90-90-90: 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status; 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status on treatment; and 90% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads.

UNAIDS estimates that by June 2014, some 13.6 million people had access to antiretroviral therapy, a huge step towards ensuring that 15 million people have access by 2015, but still a long way off the 90-90-90 targets. Particular efforts are needed to close the treatment gap for children.

Other targets include reducing the annual number of new HIV infections by more than 75%, to 500 000 in 2020, and achieving zero discrimination. The targets are firmly based on an approach to leaving no one behind that is grounded in human rights and, if achieved, would significantly improve global health outcomes.

Massive and widespread progress has been made in responding to HIV and many lessons have been learned in how to programme efficiently and effectively to produce the best results for people.

This message was echoed by Ms Theron, who spoke to the students, researchers, policy-makers and advocates attending the launch event. "When young people have access to quality HIV health and education options, they make smart choices for their futures. Let’s make sure adolescents everywhere are empowered to be part of the solution to ending this epidemic," said Ms Theron. “Meeting UNAIDS Fast-Track Targets will ensure no one is left behind.”

Fast-Track: ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 also highlights just how critical investment is to achieving these targets. Low-income countries will require a peak of US$ 9.7 billion in funding in 2020 and lower-middle-income countries US$ 8.7 billion. International funding support will be needed to supplement domestic investments, particularly in low-income countries, which are currently only funding around 10% of their responses to HIV through domestic sources. Upper-middle-income countries will require US$ 17.2 billion in 2020. In 2013, 80% of upper-middle-income countries were financing their responses to HIV through domestic sources.

“If we invest just US$ 3 dollars a day for each person living with HIV for the next five years we would break the epidemic for good,” said Mr Sidibé. “And we know that each dollar invested will produce a US$ 15 return.”

If sufficient investments are achieved, global resource needs will start to reduce from 2020. By 2030, the annual resources required in all low- and middle-income countries will decline to US$ 32.8 billion, down 8% from the US$ 35.6 billion needed in 2020. These resources will provide antiretroviral treatment to twice as many people in 2020 than in 2015.

Focus

The UNAIDS Fast-Track approach emphasizes the need to focus on the counties, cities and communities most affected by HIV and recommends that resources be concentrated on the areas with the greatest impact.

The approach outlines that particular efforts are needed in the 30 countries that together account for 89% of new HIV infections worldwide. To Fast-Track national responses in these 30 priority countries will require extensive mobilization of human, institutional and strategic international partners as well as significant commitments from both national and international sources. The importance of reaching people most affected by HIV is also outlined as key to ending the AIDS epidemic and concerns are raised about access to HIV services for people most in need.

In 2013, an estimated:             35 million [33.2 million–37.2 million] people globally were living with HIV             2.1 million [1.9 million–2.4 million] people became newly infected with HIV             1.5 million [1.4 million–1.7 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses By June 2014:             13.6 million people had access to antiretroviral medicines

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.

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.