GENEVA, 21 May 2013—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is deeply saddened by the death of Shivananda Khan, an AIDS activist who was known and respected for his tireless promotion of the rights of men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Mr Khan, the founder and Chief Executive of the Naz Foundation International based in London and Lucknow became active in the AIDS response after losing a close friend to AIDS in the early 1990s. In recognition of Mr Khan’s work with men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and globally, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2005.

“The global AIDS movement has lost a leading and passionate advocate on HIV, men who have sex with men and transgender issues,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Shiv was an inspiration and a committed champion for community-led HIV responses. He will be greatly missed.”

For over two decades, Mr Khan campaigned to bring greater attention to the challenges and strategies needed to address HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender people. He was a strong advocate for the development of community-led organizations in South Asia. Mr Khan was the central figure in the development of the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), serving as its Chair from 2009-2012.

GENEVA, 18 May 2013—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) joins partners and allies around the world in recognizing World AIDS Vaccine Day. 

Developing an HIV vaccine is one of the greatest scientific challenges the world faces—and one of the most important. While encouraging progress has been made in the AIDS response, getting to zero new HIV infections will ultimately require a safe and highly effective HIV vaccine.

The recent news that a potential vaccine candidate was found ineffective in a large clinical trial highlights the magnitude of the task. However, evidence shows that a vaccine is possible. One candidate has already been shown to be partially effective (the RV144 trial, reported in 2009),   and a multinational research collaboration is investigating ways to improve upon it. In the laboratory, exciting new discoveries may soon lead to the development of entirely different types of vaccines.

“Despite the formidable challenge of finding a vaccine for a complex virus like HIV, there is today a more systematic and concerted scientific effort than ever before,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Sustained funding for research to find a vaccine for HIV is essential. With almost five new infections every minute, there is no time to lose.”

While the scientific challenges are great, they are being overcome due to the commitment and hard work of researchers, study participants, and affected communities. An effective HIV vaccine is only possible with continued support and investment in this critical work.

Message from UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé on the occasion of World TB Day 2013

GENEVA, 24 March 2013—Every day more than 1000 people living with HIV die of tuberculosis. This is unacceptable. Today we have the knowledge and the power to stop HIV and TB in their tracks. By integrating HIV and TB services and systems, we can save millions of lives and millions of dollars.

UNAIDS is calling for Zero parallel systems for HIV and TB. This means that HIV and TB systems should be fully integrated, every person living with HIV is tested for TB and that every person with TB is offered an HIV test, and people with TB who are HIV-positive are started on antiretroviral treatment immediately.

This can be achieved if governments, partners, businesses, civil society and people living with HIV and TB—commit resources, energies and embrace a collaborative spirit to end the HIV and TB co-epidemic.

If we do not close the funding gap and focus on HIV and TB hotspots, globally we could face a re-emergent disaster of HIV and drug resistant TB. UNAIDS will work closely with countries, donors and partners, particularly the Stop TB Partnership, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief  to produce sustainable solutions to fully integrate HIV/TB services and systems.   

There are less than 1000 days remaining to achieve the targets in the 2011 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. Member states committed to halving the number of TB deaths in people living with HIV.

Any time wasted will be precious lives lost.

UNAIDS looks forward to continued partnership with the Catholic Church in responding to HIV

GENEVA, 14 March 2013—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) congratulates His Holiness Pope Francis on his election as the new Pope of the Catholic Church.

“I give my warm wishes to Pope Francis as he assumes the papacy. His unwavering commitment to serve people most in need is an inspiration to us all,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I look forward to working with His Holiness so that the Catholic Church can advance the AIDS response and ensure the dignity of people most affected by HIV.”

UNAIDS works closely with faith based organisations including the Catholic Church, which provides support to millions of people living with HIV around the world.  Statistics from the Vatican in 2012 indicate that Catholic Church-related organizations provide approximately a quarter of all HIV treatment, care, and support throughout the world and run more than 5000 hospitals, 18 000 dispensaries and 9000 orphanages, many involved in AIDS-related activities.

UNAIDS values its close working relationship with the Catholic Church and the Holy See, particularly on critical issues such as the elimination of new HIV infections in children and keeping their mothers alive, as well as increasing access to antiretroviral medication.

In 2009, UNAIDS established a strategic framework to strengthen partnerships between UNAIDS and faith based organisations. The framework outlines the need for global and national religious leaders to take supportive public action in the AIDS response.

“The aids response is not just about science, but also social transformation which cannot be achieved without engaging religious leaders and faith based organisations,” added Mr Sidibé.

GENEVA, 31 January 2013—The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the recent law reforms in Mongolia that have removed all travel restrictions and other discriminatory provisions for people living with HIV. The reforms which were passed by Mongolia’s Parliament in mid-December of last year took effect on 15 January 2013.

The Law on Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome removes all HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence. Foreigners applying for visas to Mongolia are no longer required to disclose or provide documentation of HIV status.

“I commend Mongolia for taking this bold step and I hope this will encourage other countries to follow their example and move the world towards zero HIV-related stigma and discrimination,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director.

UNAIDS advocates for the right to freedom of movement—regardless of HIV status. There is no evidence to suggest that restrictions on the entry, stay or residence of people living with HIV protect public health.

Mongolia’s reforms also removed employment restrictions that prevented people living with HIV from undertaking certain jobs, including in the food industry. The new law has also encouraged the creation of a multi-sectorial body comprised of government, civil society and private sector representatives to help put in place the reforms.

With the removal of Mongolia's restrictions, UNAIDS counts 44 countries, territories, and areas that continue to impose some form of restriction on the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV based on their HIV status. There are five countries with a complete ban on the entry and stay of people living with HIV and five more countries deny visas even for short-term stays. Nineteen countries deport individuals once their HIV-positive status is discovered.

GENEVA, 14 December 2012—The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has appointed Dr Luiz Loures as the new Deputy Executive Director of Programme at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.

“Luiz is a pioneer in the AIDS response––from his grassroots work treating patients in Brazil in the early days of the epidemic––to his subsequent global policy work on AIDS,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “I am confident that his dynamic leadership and forward thinking approach will help take the AIDS response to new levels.”

Dr Loures joined UNAIDS in 1996, holding posts which included Director of the Executive Office and most recently Director of the Political and Public Affairs Branch. He also served as Associate Director of the Europe and Americas Division.

Before joining UNAIDS, Dr Loures was a Special Advisor on AIDS to the Ministry of Health in Brazil and participated actively in the creation and consolidation of the country’s National AIDS Programme, widely recognized today as one of the most effective in curbing the epidemic. He was also directly responsible for designing the programme for universal access to antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV in Brazil. A medical doctor, Dr Loures brings more than 28 years of experience in the AIDS response.

Dr Loures will assume his new role on 1 January 2013. Current Deputy Executive Director of Programme Paul De Lay will retire at the end of this year.  

GENEVA, 10 December 2012—On the occasion of Human Rights Day, there is evidence that global solidarity and shared responsibility are expanding people’s right to health across the world. More than half the people in need of antiretroviral treatment are now receiving it, far fewer people are dying from AIDS-related illnesses, 25 countries have reduced new HIV infections by more than 50% and new HIV treatment and prevention science promise yet more results.

But AIDS is far from over and there are still major challenges to reaching people with life-saving HIV services. People living with HIV have fought for and gained impressive recognition of their right to non-discrimination. However zero discrimination in the response to HIV is far from being achieved. HIV-related discrimination continues to impact the lives of many people living with HIV, and still prevents millions of people from coming forward to test for HIV and access prevention and treatment services.

Effective programmes and protective laws can overcome discrimination and marginalization in the context of HIV. But many of the people most affected by the epidemic remain marginalized and criminalized––sex workers, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men and transgender people. They are unable to benefit from their rights to health, non-discrimination and freedom from violence.  As the world strives to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, efforts must be doubled to realize the rights of all people affected by HIV. 

This International Human Rights Day is dedicated to the principle of inclusion and the right to participate in public life. We need to work to ensure that all members of society have the opportunity to fully realize their rights to health, dignity and security in a world with HIV.

Key elements to ensuring a rights-based approach to HIV include:

• Strong and supportive links to care and treatment must be included in HIV testing programmes;
• Efforts to expand treatment must ensure access to the right medicines at the right time, including second line medicines that in many places remain prohibitively expensive;
• Health systems need to be strengthened to become places of care and support, not denial and discrimination;
• Communities and civil society also need to be strengthened and resourced to work in synergy with health services;
• A wide range of HIV prevention services must be made available, especially to young people who are often denied their rights to information and services about HIV and sexuality;
• Women living with HIV must be able to fully exercise their reproductive and sexual health rights;
• And punitive laws must be replaced by protective ones.

GENEVA, 15 November 2012––The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) congratulates Mark Dybul on his appointment as Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

“Mark inspires confidence,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I fully trust that he will lead the Global Fund to new heights by strengthening partnerships and delivering results on the ground. His appointment marks a new era for the Global Fund and UNAIDS is looking forward to a strong and dynamic collaboration in the coming years.”

Dr Dybul served as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, leading the implementation of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief during the presidency of George W. Bush.  He is a distinguished scholar and currently serves as Co-Director of the Global Health Law Programme at Georgetown's O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, and Senior Advisor to the President at Georgetown University.

Throughout his career, Dr Dybul has worked closely with UNAIDS serving as Vice-Chair and later Chair of UNAIDS’ Programme Coordinating Board. He has received numerous awards and honours for his work in public health and infectious diseases.

As Executive Director of the Global Fund, Dr Dybul will lead its work in attracting, managing and disbursing additional resources to strengthen the global response to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. UNAIDS looks forward to working with countries as the Global Fund transitions to a new Funding Model that focuses on country ownership and making strategic investments.

WASHINGTON, DC/GENEVA, 20 July 2012—The United Nations has announced the appointment of Michel Kazatchkine as the Secretary-General’s new Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, one of only two regions in the world where HIV is continuing to grow.

In 2011, there were 1.5 million people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and 170 000 people were newly infected with the virus. New infections have risen by more than 22% in the region since 2005 and there is no sign that the epidemics are slowing down.

“Eastern Europe and Central Asia are still facing huge challenges in responding to HIV,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). “With his experience and leadership I am convinced that Mr Kazatchkine will do an excellent job in helping to reverse the epidemic in this pivotal region.”

Michel Kazatchkine is an internationally recognized physician who has devoted thirty years of his professional life to the AIDS response. From 2007 to 2012 he served as the Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and from 1998 to 2005 he was Director of the French National Agency for AIDS Research.  Between 2005 and 2007 he served as France's Global Ambassador for HIV and Communicable Diseases.

“I am committed to encouraging countries in this region to turn the tide of the epidemic and save millions of lives”, said Mr Kazatchkine. “Together with UNAIDS, I will advocate for an urgent mobilization to respond to the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”

As Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Kazatchkine will advocate at the highest levels for the implementation of the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and its targets.

AU and NEPAD Agency take the lead in transforming the face of health responses in Africa

ADDIS ABABA, 16 July 2012—A roadmap adopted today by African Heads of State and Government charts a new course for the continent’s responses to AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. Developed by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency), with support from UNAIDS, the Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity was endorsed at the 19th Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“This Roadmap provides a major step forward in our responses to AIDS, TB and malaria,” said Dr Thomas Yayi Boni, Chairperson of African Union and President of Benin. “Through it, we will pursue African solutions reflecting our continent’s dynamism and potential—like local pharmaceutical production. Together we will invest in the future.”  

Structured around three strategic pillars—health governance, diversified financing and access to medicines—the Roadmap offers a set of practical and African-owned solutions to enhance sustainable responses to AIDS, TB and malaria. It defines goals, expected results, roles and responsibilities to hold stakeholders accountable over a three-year time frame, through 2015.

“This Roadmap will act as a driving force for Africa-owned solutions,” said Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Agency. “Together we must support African leaders to implement it—that means new partnerships, new financing arrangements and new ways to strengthen sustainable African institutions.”

Health governance

The Roadmap emphasizes the importance of robust policy, oversight and accountability frameworks for investments in AIDS, TB and malaria. AIDS Watch Africa—an African advocacy and accountability initiative—will play a key role in measuring progress and holding national, regional, continental and global stakeholders accountable to their commitments on AIDS, TB and malaria.

“AIDS Watch Africa’s vision of shared responsibility and global solidarity marks a radical departure from business as usual,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “I urge all African leaders to urgently take the Roadmap forward and all development partners to get behind these African efforts in the spirit of solidarity and mutual accountability.”

Diversified financing

According to UNAIDS estimates, Africa will require an annual investment of US$ 11-12 billion for its AIDS response in 2015; that same year, the expected funding gap is US$ 3-4 billion. Similarly, resources available for the continent’s TB and malaria responses fall far short of need.

The Roadmap calls on African governments and development partners to fill these funding gaps together, investing their “fair share” based on ability and prior commitments. Countries are encouraged to develop financially viable national plans with clear targets. Development partners are asked to provide long-term, predictable resources and to align their commitments with African priorities.

"Effective fund mobilization and disbursement are critical for our response," said Mr Idriss Déby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad. “This Roadmap should be a roadmap for each Head of State. We must consider this an opportunity to change our approach not just to AIDS but to the development of our Continent.”

Access to medicines

Many African countries depend on external sources to provide life-saving medicines for their populations. In the case of AIDS, more than 80% of HIV drugs dispensed in Africa are imported. A vast majority of HIV medicines keeping Africans alive are paid for through external aid.

The Roadmap establishes a set of priority actions to accelerate access to affordable and quality-assured medicines in Africa. These include: strengthening African drug regulatory systems; ensuring that countries in Africa acquire essential health-related technologies and commodities through South-South cooperation; and removing trade barriers to allow for the emergence of pharmaceutical production hubs within Africa that can serve regional markets.

AU Chair calls for side event on AIDS and shared responsibility

During the Summit of the African Union, Dr Yayi Boni called on African leaders to hold a high-level side event at the September 2012 UN General Assembly focused on AIDS and shared responsibility. Such an event would offer a unique opportunity to present the Roadmap to the global community, he said.