A new report by UNAIDS, Power to the people, released ahead of World AIDS Day, shows that where people and communities living with and affected by HIV are engaged in decision-making and HIV service delivery, new infections decline and more people living with HIV gain access to treatment. When people have the power to choose, to know, to thrive, to demand and to work together, lives are saved, injustices are prevented and dignity is restored.

Some national HIV responses show improvement, but insufficient political will, frail health systems and weak support for community organizations hold back progress. Systemic barriers, including HIV-related criminalization and user fees, continue to deter large numbers of people from accessing HIV testing and treatment services. Many countries and communities in the region are fragile, affected by conflict, insecurity and humanitarian crises that create additional barriers to HIV responses.

Communities make an invaluable contribution to the AIDS response. Communities of people living with HIV, of key populations—gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers, transgender people and prisoners—and of women and young people lead and support the delivery of HIV services, defend human rights, support their peers. Communities are the lifeblood of an effective AIDS response and an important pillar of support. World AIDS Day 2019 theme — Communities make the difference

NOTE: The paper on “What is a Community-led Organization” will be posted following the consideration of the outcome of the work of the Task Team convened by the PCB at its 43rd and 45th sessions.

The HIV response in Latin America is predominantly funded with domestic resources. However, there has been insufficient domestic investment in programming for key populations, including the expansion of prevention services for gay men and other men who have sex with men, female sex workers and transgender people. In the countries that are heavily dependent on international donor funding, rapid decreases in such resources threaten the sustainability of these programmes.

In 2018: 54% of new HIV infections were among key populations and their sexual partners, 40% decrease in new HIV infections since the peak in 1997, 37.9 million people living with HIV in the world, 1 700 000 children living with HIV (under 15 years)