This brief, the third in a series of three, discusses the ethical issues arising from HIV phylogenetic analyses in both research and public health settings and offers guidance on how to minimise risks for analyses that generate sensitive data. The first brief, The Application of Phylogenetics to HIV—Insights into Biology and Epidemiology of HIV, explains the methods and approaches used to generate genetic and phylogenetic data and analyses. The second brief explores what we have learned from HIV phylogenetic studies and how HIV phylogenetics can and should be used to support public health programmes.

This is the second brief in a series of three on HIV phylogenetics. The first brief, The Application of Phylogenetics to HIV—Insights into Biology and Epidemiology of HIV, explains the methods and approaches used to generate genetic and phylogenetic data and analyses. This brief summarises the ways in which phylogenetic (and other sequence-based) analyses are currently being used and reflects on how they could be used in the future in the field of HIV research and public health. The third brief discusses the ethical challenges of using HIV phylogenetics in research and public health surveillance.

This report synthesizes the available information on the value of community-led monitoring in four key areas: HIV and health services; creating an enabling environment; community systems strengthening; and crafting better-defined policies and investments.

UNAIDS has compiled this set of 10 key success case studies from 5 countries in the
region (Angola, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda) that have shown catalytic impact
in the areas of HIV, male engagement, gender-based violence, and sexual and
reproductive health and rights, and domestic strategies for sustaining resources.

This report is not only a celebration of the critical role of communities. It is a call to action to decision-makers to fully support the life-saving work of communities and to clear away the barriers that stand in their way. Press release | Report summary | Fact sheet | World AIDS Day 2023

The 2024 global AIDS report The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads, released 22 July 2024, is available here. 

This report makes clear that there is a path to end AIDS. Taking that path will help ensure preparedness to address other pandemic challenges, and advance progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. The data and real-world examples in the report make it very clear what that path is. It is not a mystery. It is a choice. Some leaders are already following the path—and succeeding. It is inspiring to note that Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe have already achieved the 95–95–95 targets, and at least 16 other countries (including eight in sub-Saharan Africa) are close to doing so. Also available: Additional resources (regional and thematic factsheets) | Annex 1: Progress towards the 2025 targets | Annex 2: Methods | Slide set | Press release | Microsite

The 2024 global AIDS report The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads, released 22 July 2024, is available here. 

This report makes clear that there is a path to end AIDS. Taking that path will help ensure preparedness to address other pandemic challenges, and advance progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. The data and real-world examples in the report make it very clear what that path is. It is not a mystery. It is a choice. Some leaders are already following the path—and succeeding. It is inspiring to note that Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe have already achieved the 95–95–95 targets, and at least 16 other countries (including eight in sub-Saharan Africa) are close to doing so. Also available: Additional resources (regional and thematic factsheets) | Annex 1: Progress towards the 2025 targets | Annex 2: Methods | Slide set | Press release | Microsite

The 2023 checklist and reference list is an updated version of the UNAIDS’s 2020 version Checklist and reference list for developing and reviewing a national strategic plan for HIV and is intended to serve as a helpful tool for developing and revising countries’ national strategic plans for HIV. The checklist is in line with the Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 priority strategic and results areas and the 2025 global HIV targets. It complements and builds on the most recent normative and technical guidance developed by UNAIDS, the UNAIDS cosponsors and The Global Fund’s Secretariat. It includes hyperlinks for such guidance, technical recommendations and other references for easy reference.

This checklist, including the YES, PARTIAL and NO response choices and justification, is not intended to be submitted to UNAIDS but rather is a self-assessment tool to help with the NSP review or development to understand relevant options and make evidence-informed decisions for the country to produce a meaningful, useful and impact-oriented NSP. The checklist has two parts for NSP self-assessment: high-level cross-cutting content (Part A) and specific programme content (Part B).

Part A applies to all countries and contains analyses of situations and responses to inform NSP development, the key principles of NSP development process, the goal, targets and priority-setting, and the principles of human rights, equity and sustainability. Part B contains the policy and programme requirements for HIV prevention, testing and diagnosis, treatment and care, addressing comorbidities and co-infections, enabling implementation and scaling up of integrated people-centred strategies, systems and interventions, social protection, health systems, community engagement and community-led responses, human rights and gender equity, efficiency and effectiveness, governance, management and accountability, HIV in humanitarian crises, and pandemic preparedness and response. Countries need to select the relevant elements of Part B depending on context and consultations with wider groups of stakeholders.