1 December 2017

Michel Sidibé
Executive Director of UNAIDS
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

This World AIDS Day, we are highlighting the importance of the right to health and the challenges that people living with and affected by HIV face in fulfilling that right.

The right to health is a fundamental human right—everybody has the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The world will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals—which include the target of ending AIDS by 2030—without people attaining their right to health. The right to health is interrelated with a range of other rights, including the rights to sanitation, food, decent housing, healthy working conditions and a clean environment.

The right to health means many different things: that no one person has a greater right to health care than anyone else; that there is adequate health-care infrastructure; that health-care services are respectful and non-discriminatory; and that health care must be medically appropriate and of good quality. But the right to health is more than that—by attaining the right to health, people’s dreams and promises can be fulfilled.

On every World AIDS Day, we look back to remember our family members and friends who have died from AIDS-related illnesses and recommit our solidarity with all who are living with or affected by HIV.

From the beginning, the AIDS response was built on the fundamental right to health and well-being. The AIDS community advocated for rights-based systems for health and to accelerate efforts for the world to understand HIV: how to prevent it and how to treat it.

Too many people—especially those who are the most marginalized and most affected by HIV—still face challenges in accessing the health and social services they urgently need. We all must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people being left behind and demand that no one is denied their human rights.

This year has seen significant steps on the way to meeting the 90–90–90 treatment targets towards ending AIDS by 2030. Nearly 21 million people living with HIV are now on treatment and new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are declining in many parts of the world. But we shouldn’t be complacent. In eastern Europe and central Asia, new HIV infections have risen by 60% since 2010 and AIDS-related deaths by 27%. Western and central Africa is still being left behind. Two out of three people are not accessing treatment. We cannot have a two-speed approach to ending AIDS.

For all the successes, AIDS is not yet over. But by ensuring that everyone, everywhere accesses their right to health, it can be.

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, 14 November 2017—UNAIDS welcomes the appointment of Peter Sands as the new Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

“The Global Fund is a critical partner for UNAIDS,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Mr Sands has the experience, leadership and vision needed to do the job and I very much look forward to working with him to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”

UNAIDS has worked closely with the Global Fund since its inception in 2002. UNAIDS leverages its relationships and partnerships to assist countries in securing Global Fund resources, implementing grant programmes and overcoming bottlenecks. The Global Fund, in collaboration with other donors and governments, secures the resources to implement effective responses to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

Together, UNAIDS and the Global Fund have ensured that millions of people living with HIV have access to treatment and that people most affected by the epidemic have the health and support services 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.

GENEVA, 5 October 2017—UNAIDS welcomes the appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General of Natalia Kanem as the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

“As part of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations Population Fund’s work is critical in meeting the reproductive health needs of women and adolescents,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I look forward to working closely with Ms Kanem. Her experience in public health, her strong leadership and her commitment to social justice will be invaluable in our efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat.” 

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s response to HIV is integral to its goals of achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and ending gender-based violence. UNFPA promotes integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for young people, key populations, and women and girls, including people living with HIV.

As part of UNFPA’s work on HIV prevention, Ms Kanem is co-convening a meeting of the Global Prevention Coalition with Mr Sidibé to finalize work on the HIV Prevention 2020 Road Map, a road map to accelerate HIV prevention efforts and reduce new HIV infections by 75% by 2020.

UNFPA is one of UNAIDS’ 11 Cosponsors working to end the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. UNFPA is also part of the H6 partnership, which pulls together the collective strengths and distinct capacities of six United Nations agencies, related organizations and programmes to improve the health and save the lives of women and children around the world.

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, 16 October 2017—UNAIDS warmly welcomes the nomination by the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) of Audrey Azoulay as its new Director-General.

“Audrey Azoulay’s commitment to promote respect for diversity, gender equality and access to education and culture will be invaluable in her new role. They are values we share,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “UNAIDS looks forward to working closely with Ms Azoulay and UNESCO to further strengthen our engagement with the education, scientific and cultural sectors as part of our joint efforts to end AIDS by 2030.”

UNESCO was founded in 1945 with the mission of contributing to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture. UNESCO is one of UNAIDS’ 11 cosponsoring organizations and leads efforts to support countries in scaling up the education sector response to HIV. 

Education is essential to an effective response to HIV and contributes to fostering economic growth, reducing poverty and improving general health. Education has the capacity to transform lives and enable people to thrive in their environment, take healthy decisions and build a more just, inclusive, safe and sustainable world. The role of the education sector includes providing the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that can contribute to safer behaviours, eliminate stigma and discrimination, seek treatment and enable them to stay healthy and free from 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 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, 3 October 2017—UNAIDS warmly congratulates Mariângela Batista Galvão Simão on her appointment as the Assistant Director-General for Drug Access, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals at the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Mariangela is driven by a steadfast commitment to put people at the centre,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “She is a passionate advocate for human rights and I look forward to continuing to work with her to ensure that no one is left behind in access to medicines.”

Ms Simão has worked for UNAIDS since 2010, serving as the Director of Rights, Gender, Prevention and Community Mobilization. She has been instrumental in developing policies and guidance on the impact of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in health systems, HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women, human rights and HIV, ending overly broad criminalization of HIV transmission and partnerships with civil society.

UNAIDS would also like to congratulate Bernhard Schwartländer on his appointment as the new Chef de Cabinet at WHO. Mr Schwartländer held a number of positions with UNAIDS, including Director of Evaluation and Strategic Information until 2012.

“These two excellent leaders will bring energy, determination and a focus on delivering results for people everywhere,” said Mr Sidibé. “I am proud of their achievements and wish them well in their new roles.”

WHO is one of UNAIDS’ 11 Cosponsors advancing progress in global health towards ending the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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, 20 September 2017—UNAIDS congratulates Lesotho and Uganda on the progress made towards ending AIDS shown in their respective Population-Based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIAs).

According to the new Lesotho PHIA results, HIV viral load suppression—a key marker indicating that the body is successfully suppressing the virus—has reached 68% among all adults living with HIV between the ages of 15 and 59 years. People living with HIV with suppressed viral loads live longer, have fewer complications due to HIV and are less likely to transmit the virus. The findings suggest that Lesotho is on track to achieve the 90–90–90 targets by 2020, whereby 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% of people who know their status are accessing treatment and 90% of people on treatment are virally suppressed.  

The Uganda PHIA results indicate that 60% of adults living with HIV between the ages of 15 and 64 years are virally suppressed. The results demonstrate that Uganda is making steady progress towards its national goal of reaching 73% viral load suppression among adults living with HIV between the ages of 15 and 49 years by 2020. Uganda’s epidemic has stabilized in part due to increases in the coverage of voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention and the expansion of HIV treatment, including for pregnant women living with HIV.

“The Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment studies demonstrate that by committing to the 90–90–90 targets countries are making progress faster,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “Working together with the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and partners, Lesotho and Uganda are saving lives and getting on track to ending AIDS.”

In addition to the Lesotho and Uganda surveys, similar data from Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe were gathered through nationally representative household surveys, in collaboration with local governmental and nongovernmental partners, in 2016. The surveys for Lesotho and Uganda were conducted with funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and assistance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ICAP at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

UNAIDS thanks the United States of America for its commitment to the global AIDS response. On 19 September 2017, PEPFAR released its new Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017–2020). The strategy reaffirms the United States Government’s leadership and commitment to support the response to HIV in more than 50 countries and is in line with the Fast-Track Targets.

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 study shows results delivered thanks to focused efforts in collaboration with United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

MBABANE/GENEVA, 24 July 2017—UNAIDS congratulates the Kingdom of Swaziland on the findings of the Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS 2) announced by Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini today in Mbabane, Swaziland that 73% of the adult population aged 15 years and older are virally suppressed—76% of adult women and 68% of adult men. The survey, part of the Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIA), was conducted with funding from United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“Swaziland has demonstrated to the world that shared responsibility and global solidarity produces results,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “Working together with PEPFAR and partners, Swaziland is saving lives and on track to control the epidemic.”

SHIMS 2 findings on, viral load suppression among adults of 15 years and older of 73% affirms UNAIDS estimates of 68% [54%–77%].  Compared to the 2011 SHIMS1 survey which had a similar design, the survey results suggest that the rate of new HIV infections among adults (ages 18-49 years) has decreased by half from 2.5% in 2011 to 1.4% in 2016 (2.0% for adult women and 0.9% for adult men). This is similar to the decline in incidence among adult ages 15-49 as published by UNAIDS: from 2.5% [2.3%–2.6%] in 2011 to 1.7% [1.4%–2.0%] in 2016.

In 2016, UNAIDS estimated that 220 000 [200 000—230 000] people were living with HIV in Swaziland, and that new HIV infections were reduced from 12 000 [12 000—13 000] in 2011 to 8800 [7300—11 000] in 2016. Prevention of mother to child coverage in Swaziland has been between 90 and 100% since 2011 and was estimated to be 95% [81%–>95%] in 2016. As a result fewer than 1000 children became infected with HIV in Swaziland in 2016. 

“UNAIDS welcomes the Swaziland PHIA results as further affirmation of the validity and accuracy of our modelling estimates.” said Mr Sidibé.

The data from the SHIMS2 are part of the PHIA, funded by PEPFAR and conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ICAP at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. In addition to the Swaziland survey, similar data from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe were gathered through critical household surveys, in collaboration with local governmental and non-governmental partners in 2016.

UNAIDS congratulates PEPFAR for their unwavering commitment to the global AIDS response. PEPFAR works with more than 50 countries, to maintain access to life-saving treatment, provide services for orphans and vulnerable children, ensure that the most vulnerable and key populations have access to services to prevent and treat HIV and accelerate progress toward the end of the AIDS epidemic.

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.

PARIS/GENEVA, 25 July 2017—UNAIDS has welcomed the launch of the End AIDS Coalition (EAC) during the 9th International AIDS Conference on HIV Science taking place in Paris, France. The EAC brings together a strong collaboration of leading AIDS experts, scientists, clinicians, policy-makers, faith leaders, business leaders and activists determined to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

The EAC aims to amplify efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by strengthening linkages across research, resources and implementation, by encouraging the aggregation and analysis of data from the global AIDS response to identify barriers and encourage efficiencies and by inspiring a movement to mobilize and engage the next generation of young leaders in the response to HIV.

The founder of the End AIDS Coalition is the American fashion designer and amfAR chair, Kenneth Cole, who is also a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador. Speaking at the launch, Mr Cole said the world was at a tipping point in the response to the HIV epidemic and stressed the need for all actors to join together to gain control of the epidemic before the window of opportunity closed.   

The launch of the new coalition comes shortly after a new UNAIDS report, Ending AIDS: progress towards the 90-90-90 targets, showed that more than half of all people living with HIV now have access to HIV treatment and that AIDS-related deaths have almost halved since 2005. But the report also underlined the scale of the task ahead, with new HIV infections also declining but not at the pace needed to meet global targets.

The report emphasized the need to invest in new ways of delivering HIV treatment and prevention services to people and places most in need.

“Innovation and research are critical and must be the cornerstone of our efforts,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “We cannot lose our sense of urgency. Without collaboration and investment in innovation, we will never be able to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.” 

As well as calling for wider access to HIV treatment and prevention options, the EAC will also advocate for continued and sustained efforts to discover a vaccine and a cure.     

Also present at the launch of the EAC were the Minister of Health, Botswana, Dorcas Makgato, United States Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Deborah Birx, the Associate Scientific Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Quarraisha Abdool Karim, the Interim Executive Director of the Global Fund, Marijke Wijnroks and Ambassador of the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation, Jake Glaser. 

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.