The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, is leading the UNAIDS delegation at The Summit of the Future and the 79^th United Nations General Assembly in New York to urge world leaders to make new HIV prevention technologies available to people at risk of HIV infection and revitalize multilateralism in responding to global crises.

Lenacapavir, a new injectable medicine administered once every six months has shown in trials to be nearly 100% effective in preventing HIV with trials having been halted early due to the effectiveness of the new medicine. The medicine could be a game-changer for people most at risk of HIV but only if the technology is available and affordable in countries and populations most affected by HIV.  

She will be calling on world leaders to revitalise multilateralism, with people at the centre, to respect human rights, solve the debt crisis to give countries the fiscal space to invest in health and other essential services, and allow communities and young people to lead and shape effective policies and programmes to end AIDS by 2030.

Ms Byanyima will be at #UNGA79 with two young HIV activists, Ibanomonde Ngema from South Africa and Jerop Limo from Kenya who will urge leaders to invest in youth-friendly health systems, to provide holistic services for young people living with HIV, and to partner with young people and communities, allowing them to lead in the response to HIV.

A special event convened by UNAIDS, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria on September 24 will celebrate the achievements of the global AIDS movement, using the global HIV response as a model of hope, global solidarity and multilateralism to renew commitments, both political and financial, to end AIDS by 2030 and secure progress in achieving the SDG’s.

Alongside Ms Byanyima, participants will include HE William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, HE Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire and HE Russell Dlamini, Prime Minister of Eswatini (see media advisory below for more details).

Ms Byanyima, Ms Ngema and Ms Limo are available for interviews. 

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.

Media are invited to attend the launch of a new report by UNAIDS which shows that the world can end AIDS if communities are included, funded and supported to lead the way.

Much of the progress made against the HIV pandemic over the last 40 years is thanks to the efforts of community-based organizations. However, the new UNAIDS World AIDS Day report - Let Communities Lead - reveals how communities working to end AIDS are too often unrecognized, under-resourced and in some places even under attack. It outlines how, by removing these obstacles, the full potential of community leadership will be unleashed, allowing the world to end AIDS by 2030.

The press conference will be held in London on 28 November during a World AIDS Day conference hosted by the UK civil society organization STOPAIDS.

WHAT: Launch of UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report: Let Communities Lead

WHEN: 13:30-14:30 GMT, Tuesday 28 November 2023

WHERE: Central Hall Westminster (Mathew Parker Street West entrance), London, UK

WHO:

• Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS
• Mercy Shibemba MBE, a young, UK-based, award-winning advocate for people living with HIV
• Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister of State for Development and Africa
• Solange Baptiste, Community health and social justice activist, and Executive Director of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC)
• Robbie Lawlor, HIV and access to medicines activist, podcast host and PhD candidate (Moderator)

 

To attend in person: Media can register here (please select ‘Media’ when registering).

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 announces that despite the many challenges there is a path that ends AIDS. In its new report The Path That Ends AIDS, UNAIDS demonstrates that there are a growing number of countries that are proving that AIDS can be ended if there is political will.

Political will means delivering on: reliable and adequate funding; following the data and evidence; reducing the inequalities and discrimination that deny people services, using scientific tools that protect well-being, and the essential element of recognizing and engaging community-led interventions. 

The Path That Ends AIDS highlights some enormous disparities. Where political commitments have taken an inclusive, human rights-based approach to support people living with and affected by HIV, there is remarkable progress in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths. Yet when leaders ignore, isolate and criminalize people living with or at risk of HIV, progress in the AIDS response is obstructed. more and more people are becoming infected with HIV.

At this press conference you will hear from a civil society leader living with HIV about the epidemic in Asia. You will hear from the former minister of health of Botswana. You will hear from the former President of the Swiss Confederation about the importance of political leadership and of progressive measures in support of marginalized people at risk of HIV. And you will hear from the Executive Director of UNAIDS who is leading the quest to end AIDS by 2030. 

WHAT: Press conference to launch the 2023 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update, The Path That Ends AIDS

WHEN: Thursday, 13^th July, 14:00–15:00 CET / 12:00-13:00 GMT

SPEAKERS:

• Ms Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS
• Mr Harry Prabowo, Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV
• Ms Ruth Dreifuss, Former President of the Swiss confederation
• Ms Sheila Tlou, Co-Chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, and former Minister of Health of Botswana

WHERE: Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room B-128  

 

FOR VIRTUAL ACCESS AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS PLEASE CONTACT:

Michael Hollingdale | tel. +41 79 500 2119 | hollingdalem@unaids.org

Sophie Barton-Knott | tel. +41 79 514 6896 | 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.

UNAIDS World AIDS Day report 2022 will be launched on Tuesday, 29th November in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, during UNAIDS Executive Director's visit to the country. The report is called ‘Dangerous Inequalities’ and reveals that inequalities are obstructing the end of AIDS. On current trends the world will not meet agreed global targets on AIDS. Millions of lives are at stake. The new UNAIDS report shows that only urgent action to tackle inequalities can get the world's AIDS response on track. It shows how world leaders can tackle those inequalities, and calls on them to be courageous in doing so.

WHAT: 
Press conference to launch: Dangerous Inequalities, the UNAIDS World AIDS Day report 2022

WHEN:
Tuesday, 29th November. 8:30am-9:30am GMT

SPEAKERS:

• Ms Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS
• Ms Leticia Mourice Kapela, Chairperson, National Council of People Living with HIV (NACOPHA), Tanzania, Civil Society Leader
• Senior government representative, (to be announced shortly)

WATCH LIVE ON 29 NOVEMBER 8:30AM GMT:

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.

Key events UNAIDS is leading, co-organizing or participating in at AIDS2018

 

Sustainable AIDS response

Results in the era of shrinking donor funding

Friday 20 & Saturday 21 July

This pre-conference is one of the only dedicated global events that convenes economists and health and AIDS response policy makers to focus on accelerating progress in countries towards sustainable financing of the HIV response. It provides a strategic platform where economists engage with a wide range of stakeholders on new economic evidence to encourage cross-country learning of novel research findings. Participants will identify strategic emerging issues related to the economics of the HIV response and key policy issues that will require further research to ensure sustainable AIDS response results.

Speakers: Stefano Bertozzi, Berkeley, School of Public Health; Julio Frenk, Harvard School of Public Health; Mead Over, Center for Global Development; Charles Gilks, School of Public Health, University of Queensland; David Wilson, the World Bank.

Venue: Academic Medical Centre, Joep Lange Institute 

Organisers: The International AIDS Economics Network (IAEN), UNAIDS, Avenir Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank

Register

UNAIDS contact: Iris Semini / seminii@unaids.org

 

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Sexual and reproductive health and rights pre-conference: Breaking barriers, building bridges for the right to decide

Saturday 21 July 2018

08:30-17:00

Poor sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV share common root causes, and yet, the respective responses to HIV and to SRHR remain largely unaligned, uncoordinated, and under-resourced. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an important opportunity to advance an integrated SRHR and HIV agenda by recognising the importance of universal SRH for achieving health (SDG 3), however, there are significant gaps. With growing conservatism to gender and human rights-based policies, including the global gag rule, now more than ever there is a need for joint action by governments and communities, civil society, international organisations and researchers supporting a strong response to address HIV and SRHR.

Speakers: Alvaro Bermejo, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); Lilianne Ploumen, Labour Party, Netherlands; L'Orangelis Thomas Negrón, GNP+

Venue: E103

Organisers: IPPF, AIDS Fonds, UNAIDS, WHO, Dance for Life HIV/AIDS Alliance, Guttmacher Institute, Rutgers

UNAIDS contact: Hege Wagan / waganh@unaids.org

 

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Successfully tackling the structural drivers of HIV

Saturday 21 July 2018

09:30-17:00

Policy makers, implementers, civil society advocates and researchers, will lead two panel discussions on ways to tackle structural drivers that impact on the SDGs in order to achieve multiple benefits; and on the delivery of biomedical prevention technologies including PrEP. The impact on the sexual health of adolescent girls and young women will be a specific focus of both panel discussions. Themes related to HIV risk will include addressing alcohol, gender inequality, social norms, intimate partner violence, stigma and transactional sex.

Co-chairs: Gafos Mitzy, UK Medical Research Council; Kapiga Saidi, London School of Hygine and Tropical Medicine

Opening remarks: UNAIDS

Register

Organisers: STRIVE partners in collaboration with DFID, UNAIDS, UNDP and SRHR Africa Trust 

UNAIDS contact: Hege Wagan / waganh@unaids.org

 

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90-90-90 Targets Workshop

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 July

The 90-90-90 Targets Workshop will examine barriers, challenges and opportunities to attain the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020:

• 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status
• 90% of people living with HIV who know their status are on antiretroviral therapy
• 90% of people living with HIV on ART achieving viral suppression

The 2018 Workshop will also focus on the 10-10-10, the people who are being left behind and who must be linked to health systems to access stigma-free HIV testing, prevention, care, treatment and support services.

Speakers: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; José M. Zuniga, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC); Kevin Osborne, International AIDS Society (IAS); Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, The United States President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief(PEPFAR); Peter Sands, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund); Linda-Gail Bekker, Desmond Tutu HIV Centre.

Venue: Elicium Ballroom, RAI Amsterdam Conference Centre

Organisers: IAPAC, UNAIDS, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, GNP+, IAS

Register

UNAIDS contact: Julianna Hills / hillsj@unaids.org

 

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Monday 23 July

Breaking out of our Echo Chambers: Creative storytelling about HIV to cut through the noise

08:00-10:00

How often do you feel you are preaching to the converted? How do we address misconceptions about HIV and tackle stigma with people and audiences that are hard to reach? Learn from storytellers who are breaking out of their ‘echo chambers’ on social media and other media channels to reach audiences that are unexposed to, or misinformed on, issues related to people living with HIV.

Speakers: Jon Cohen, Science; Georgia Arnold, MTV, Makhulu media (Virtual reality team), Reverend Johannes Mokgethi, Mahesh Mahalingam, UNAIDS and others.

Venue: G104-105

Organisers: UNAIDS and ViiV Healthcare, Positive Action

UNAIDS contact: Charlotte Sector / sectorc@unaids.org

 

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Breaking barriers and building bridges toward sustainability of the AIDS response in South-East Asia

Monday 23 July

08:00-10:00

In line with the theme of the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018), “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges”, the satellite symposium will highlight working models for key populations with focus on approaches from South-East Asian countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. These countries have many similarities in their epidemic profile and this session will be a platform in sharing best practices that could be adapted and contextualized in other settings. This satellite session will explore innovations for, and practical solutions to issues related to countries transitioning to middle-income status, and therefore away from traditional sources of donor funding. Each country presenting during the satellite session will be represented by government officials and/or community-based organizations and each will detail innovations in service delivery, and how they have built the strong political commitment required to achieve integrated, inclusive, and sustainable multi-sectoral responses.

Chair: Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS

Venue: G102-103

Organisers: UNAIDS Asia-Pacific, Government of Indonesia, Government of Myanmar and Government of Thailand (Bangkok Metropolitan Authority).

UNAIDS contact: Aries Valeriano / valerianoa@unaids.org

 

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Condoms 2.0: Reinvigorating effective condom programming in the era of epidemic control

Monday 25 July

08:00-10:00

While HIV prevention has made tremendous strides with voluntary medical male circumcision and pre-exposure prophylaxis, there are still millions of people at risk of infection who cannot use either of these interventions. Condoms remain one of the cheapest and most effective tools for preventing HIV, yet UNAIDS data shows major gaps in condom availability across the world. This satellite will feature speakers from UNAIDS, foundations, donors, countries, affected communities, young people and key populations and implementing partners. It will focus on how to better define the gaps in condom access, funding, targeted subsidy and modernize how we communicate about and offer condoms.

Co-chairs: Mitchell Warren, AVAC and Gina Dallabetta, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Venue: E102

Organisers: PSI, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNAIDS, UNFPA, AVAC, IPPF, USAID and WHO

UNAIDS contact: Henk Van Renterghem / vanrenterghemh@unaids.org

 

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Catalysing country initiatives and building bridges towards a global compact on stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings

Monday 23 July

10:15-12:15

Thailand is a regional pioneer in development and implementation of innovative system-wide stigma and discrimination responses in health settings. The symposium is an opportunity to learn from Thailand's model on its adaptation of global guidelines and measurement tools to national needs; stigma and discrimination monitoring systems, evidence informed actions at health facilities and community engagement in design and implementation at all levels. Inter-country sharing and south-to-south cooperation will be highlighted. Regional partner Vietnam will present its initiatives and lessons learned from its collaboration with Thailand.

Speakers: Thawat Suntharajarn, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Timothy Martineau, UNAIDS; Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

Venue: Elicium 2

Organisers: Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, UNAIDS,  and US Centres for Disease Control Thailand’s Division of Global HIV/TB

UNAIDS contact: Andrea Boccardi / boccardia@unaids.org

 

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Progressing sexual and reproductive health and rights - HIV linkages advancing towards universal health coverage  

Monday 23 July

10:15-12 :15

This high-level panel will examine current progress in linking sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with HIV–looking at community engagement, policy coordination, systems strengthening and service delivery aspects. The panel will present on a series of underlying principles shaping a renewed Call to Action for continued and expanded focus on SRHR–HIV linkages. Linking SRHR and HIV is an important contributory strategy for reaching SDG 3: "Good health and wellbeing", and associated Target 3.8: "Achieving universal health coverage", particularly for young people, and people living with and affected by HIV. The panel will present national, civil society, donor and development partner perspectives and will highlight how linking HIV with broader SRHR programmes is a key approach for reaching the overarching goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Co-Chairs: Manjulaa Narasimhan, WHO, Tim Sladden, UNFPA

Venue: E105-108

Organisers: UNFPA, WHO, World Bank, UNAIDS

UNAIDS contact: Luisa Cabal / caball@unaids.org

 

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Ending the AIDS epidemic and achieving universal health coverage by 2030 in Africa

Monday 23 July

10:15-12 :15

This satellite symposium with a panel discussion will focus on the mutual reinforcement of ending the AIDS epidemic and achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Africa, by reflecting on country experiences from Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda.

According to WHO, UHC means that all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship. Ensuring universal access to HIV services is critical for the achievement of UHC. HIV is one of the conditions especially important for disadvantaged groups such as women, children, the poor and key populations. As such addressing the HIV epidemic is in pursuit of equity which is inherent in UHC.

UHC has the potential to change the quality of lives of all people in Africa and serves as a critical input for sustainable development. The provision of essential services and interventions, including for HIV, is critical for the achievement of UHC and ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Speakers: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; Ren Minghui, WHO; Dr. Rashid Aman, Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya; Sabin Nsanzimana, Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda; Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director-General, Ghana Health Services, Republic of Ghana; OlayideAkanni, Journalists against AIDS, Nigeria; Peter Sands, the Global Fund; David Stanton, USAID

Moderator: Amb. Mark Dybul, Center for Global Health and Quality, Georgetown University School of Medicine, USA

Venue: Elicium 1

Organisers: UNAIDS, Government of Kenya, WHO, with additional support from the Global Fund

UNAIDS contact: Ani Shakarishvili / shakarishvilia@unaids.org and Jantine Jacobi jacobij@unaids.org

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Leadership for HIV primary prevention: The Global HIV Prevention Coalition

Monday 23 July

12:30-14:30

On 10 October 2017, as part of global efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat, UNAIDS, UNFPA and partners launched the Global HIV Prevention Coalition & Road Map 2020, to strengthen and sustain political commitment for HIV primary prevention, and to establish accountability for delivering prevention services at scale. In this session, HIV prevention leaders will make the case for HIV prevention leadership, present progress with road map implementation and towards achieving prevention targets and address sensitive issues regarding required policy change and HIV prevention financing.

Speakers: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; Natalia Kanem, UNFPA; Peter Sands, the Global Fund; Aaron Motsoaledi, Ministry of Health, South Africa; Mia Malan, Bhekisisa; Anders Nordström, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden; Deborah Birx, PEPFAR; Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF

Venue: Elicium 2

Organisers: Global HIV Prevention Coalition

UNAIDS contact: Karl Dehne / dehnek@unaids.org

 

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Eastern Europe and central Asia ministerial policy dialogue

Monday 23 Jul

14:00-16:30

The WHO Regional Office for Europe, in collaboration with the Government of the Netherlands and UNAIDS, will convene a ministerial policy dialogue on HIV and related comorbidities in eastern Europe and central Asia (EECA). The dialogue aims to present the countries pioneering approaches to sustainable, innovative and evidence-based responses to HIV and comorbidities and discuss the opportunities to scale-up. It will also serve to exchange information on sustainable financing and provide a platform to launch a compendium of good practices in the region.

Speakers: Ministers of Health from EECA; Representative of the Government of the Netherlands; Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO; Vinay Saldanha, UNAIDS; Representative of the European Commission; Representative of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and a representative EECA civil society.

Venue: Mövenpick Hotel, Amsterdam City Centre

Organisers: WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Government of the Netherlands and UNAIDS

UNAIDS contact: Vinay Saldanha / SaldanhaVP@unaids.org

 

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AIDS2018 Opening ceremony

Monday 23 July

19:30 - 20:40

Keynote address: How to face stigma & discrimination - Conchita Wurst, Artist, Austria

Speakers: Michel Sidibé Executive Director, UNAIDS

Venue: Hall 12

Organisers: IAS

 

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Political resistance to addressing the needs of key populations

Tuesday 24 July

11:00-12:30

In many countries, human rights and health needs of key and vulnerable populations are still not addressed or are not addressed at scale. This severely hampers access to information and prevention, is the cause of late diagnosis and limits access to treatment. The challenge is more of a political nature than financial or programmatic.

Speakers: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; Sigrun Møgedal, Norwegian Institute of Public Health; Mila Carovska, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Macedonia; Daouda Diouf, ENDA Tiers Monde; Jonathan Cohen, Open Society Foundations; Ruth Dreifuss, the Global Commission on Drug Policy

Venue: Auditorium

Organisers: AIDS2018 Community and Leadership Programme Committee session

UNAIDS contact: Chris Mallouris / mallourisc@unaids.org

 

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The catch-up plan in West and Central Africa: Lessons learned and way forward to ensure the accelerated scale up of ART

Tuesday 24 July

12:30-14:15

While global progress in scaling up HIV testing and treatment programmes continues, West and Central Africa (WCA) risks being left behind. Over the last decade, data reported annually by UNAIDS has consistently found that coverage for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and progress in reducing new HIV infections lags behind in WCA. At this session key obstacles, including the imminent threat of a major funding shortfall for the regional response, will be explored. By reviewing gains, challenges and new momentum in the response, key stakeholders can agree on a way forward to achieve the ambitious catch-up aims and to lay the foundation to end the region’s AIDS epidemic.

Speakers: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; Stephanie Seydoux, Ambassador for Global Health, France; Deborah Birx, PEPFAR

Venue:  UNAIDS room 1

Organisers: UNAIDS

UNAIDS contact: Catherine Bilger / bilgerc@unaids.org

 

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Implementing the SDG agenda to leave no one behind: Innovations in Europe on the Fast Track to ending AIDS

Tuesday 24 July

14:30 - 16:00

Today the HIV, TB and syphilis epidemics continue to rise especially among key populations in Eastern Europe and in parts of southern Europe and it will be critical to continue to work to address this. All over Europe, political will is needed to overcome policy and legal barriers that still hinder access to services by key populations. This session will be an opportunity to bring together some innovations and best practices and discuss what can be learnt from the work of individual member states today to inform the directions of future work.

Co-chairs: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; Esther Dixon-Williams, the European AIDS Treatment Group

Speakers: Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commission; Agnes Buzyn, Minister of Solidarity and Health, France; Zbigniew Król, Vice-Minister of Health, Poland; Sabine Weiss, Vice Minister of Health, Germany; Ferenc Bagyinszky, NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS PCB; Germany; Marc Biot, Médecins Sans Frontières; Jose Manshaden, Amsterdam City; Ricardo Leite, Parliament of Portugal; Dorthe Raben, Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections, Denmark

Venue: Hall 12

Organisers: AIDS 2018 Conference Coordinating Committee

UNAIDS contact: Anneclaire Guichard / guicharda@unaids.org

 

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Innovation and impact: Tipping the scale for adolescent girls and young women

Tuesday 24 July

18:30-20:30

Adolescent girls and young women are some of the most disproportionately affected by HIV: every week, approximately 7700 girls and women aged 15-24 acquire HIV however they remain marginalised and difficult to reach. Child marriage, lack of educational opportunities, limited access to SRHR, and gender-based violence are some of the ordeals faced by girls that can make them vulnerable to HIV. To best address girls’ needs we must tackle the structural drivers behind both HIV and child marriage. We need a comprehensive approach that challenges gender inequality and harmful social norms, and seeks to keep girls healthy, safe, and in-school. This interactive session brings together a range of leaders to discuss what is working and how we can accelerate our efforts. They will explore how using cross-sectoral approaches to tackle HIV and child marriage can lead to a brighter future for girls and young women everywhere.

Chair: Mabel van Oranje, Girls Not Brides, Netherlands

Venue: Forum

Organisers: Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage; The Government of the Netherlands; UNAIDS, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

UNAIDS contact: Kreena Govender / govenderk@unaids.org

 

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Kenya: Leadership and innovation for results in eMTCT and adolescent care

Tuesday 24 July

18:30-20:30

This symposium seeks to highlight the pathways and partnership needed for ending new infections among children and ensure children grow up AIDS free. It also seeks to foster an understanding of the complexities of a sustainable mother to child transmission and paediatric HIV response as an endeavor that requires continuous investment and effort every single day.

The symposium will use the example of Kenya to promote a discussion about how to address inequity and reach people left behind.

Speakers: Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya; Deborah Birx, PEPFAR; Charles Lyons, Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation

Venue: E105-108

Organizer: UNAIDS

UNAIDS contact: Jantine Jacobi / jacobij@unaids.org

 

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“From Invisibility to Indivisibility” - Strengthening the impact of civil society and community led networks in the HIV response through the Robert Carr Fund

Tuesday 24 July

18:30-20:30

The Robert Car Fund (RCF) is the first international pooled funding mechanism that specifically aims to strengthen global and regional HIV civil society and community networks across the world. This focus is in recognition of networks’ critical value and contribution to better health, inclusion and social wellbeing of inadequately served populations (ISPs) , given their unique reach into and impact at community level.

Over the last five years, the RCF has served a unique role in mobilizing and disseminating pooled resources for global and regional civil society actions with country impact.

This satellite event and reception will celebrate and showcase the work and impact of civil society and community led networks in the HIV response.

Speakers: Alistair Burt, Minister of State at the UK Department for International Development; Kees van Baar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands; Anne Skjelmerud, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation; Sandra Thurman, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy; Johnny Tohme, M-Pact (previously MSMGF); Baby Rivona, National Coordinator of Indonesia Positive Women Network (IPPI); Mr Peter Carr

Venue: RAI Amsterdam

Organisers: Robert Carr Networks Fund; UNAIDS as co-organizer

UNAIDS contact: Chris Mallouris / mallourisc@unaids.org

 

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#UPROOT: A youth-led political agenda to end AIDS by 2030

Tuesday 24 July

18:30-20:00

Young people are still being left behind the HIV response. To end AIDS, we must tackle the root causes that put them at risk, including inequalities, discrimination, exclusion and violence. #UPROOT is a youth-led political agenda led by The PACT, a coalition of more than 80 youth organizations working on HIV, to tackle these root causes by challenging harmful laws and policies, supporting youth participation and building partnership. The AIDS2018 Conference will mark one year since #UPROOT was launched, and youth advocates will share their progress thus far with this agenda, providing resources to young people to take it forward everywhere.

Speakers: Youth advocates from The PACT, the Adolescent Treatment Coalition (ATC), IPPF, the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV (Y+), Youth Voices Count and the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), and Ruben Pages from UNAIDS.

Venue: UNAIDS Meeting Room 1

Organisers: The PACT and UNAIDS

UNAIDS contact: Ruben Pages / pagesr@unaids.org

 

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Epidemic transition: How will we achieve it while ensuring equity and quality?

Wednesday 25 July

11:00-12:30

The terms “epidemic control” and “epidemic transition” are being used more often as countries work to meet the global commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Stakeholders working on ways to measure control and transition came together in Glion, Switzerland, in October 2017 to put forward a new set of metrics for countries’ progress towards the 2030 goal. Achieving this goal means zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths and sustained programmatic support for the millions of people living with HIV. “Transition” or “control”, and the idea of having metrics to measure transition points, raises questions, such as:

• How were these metrics established? What do they mean? How can they be interpreted?
• What does it mean to reach transition?
• Where are countries now on this path?
• How can we measure how well a response includes human rights?

Moderator: Mahesh Mahalingam, UNAIDS

Venue:  Forum

Organisers: AIDS 2018 Bridging Session

UNAIDS contact: Chris Mallouris / mallourisc@unaids.org

 

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Press launch of the Expert Consensus Statement on the Science of HIV in the Context of Criminal Law

Wednesday 25 July

14:30-15:15

Press conference to announce the publication of the Expert Consensus Statement on the Science of HIV in the Context of Criminal Law in the Journal of the International AIDS Society which aims to ensure that science informs the application of criminal law in cases related to HIV.

Speakers: Linda-Gail Bekker, AIDS 2018 International Scientific Chair; Peter Godfrey-Faussett, UNAIDS; José Zuniga, IAPAC; Edwin Bernard, HIV Justice Worldwide

Venue:  Press Conference Room 2

Organisers: UNAIDS, IAS, IAPAC, HIV Justice Network Organisation

UNAIDS contact: Luisa Cabal / caball@unaids.org

 

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Harm Reduction Funding

Thursday 26 July

10:30-12:00

During AIDS2018 Harm Reduction International will release a new report on the current state of funding for harm reduction in low and middle-income countries. The report shows that donor funding for harm reduction has dropped and that national government investment has not made up the shortfall. Not only does the total available funding match that available in 2007, but it remains a fraction of the US$1.5 billion which UNAIDS estimates is needed annually. 

Co-Chairs: Vinay Saldanha, UNAIDS and Robert Carr Network Fund

Venue: UNAIDS Offices

Organisers: Harm Reduction International, UNODC and UNAIDS

UNAIDS contact: Chris Mallouris / mallourisc@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.

During the 71st World Health Assembly, UNAIDS will be organizing and participating in a number of important events as part of UNAIDS’ continued efforts to strengthen partnerships and advocate for a Fast-Track response to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Below are some of the events that UNAIDS will be engaging in.

Wednesday, 23 May

Event              West and central Africa ministerial meeting on addressing the negative impact of user fees on access to AIDS services, increasing inequities and affecting the right to health  

Date                23 May 2018, 13:00–14:00

Where             TBC

Overview        User charges at health facilities impede access to HIV and health services, particularly maternal care and HIV testing and treatment—increasing morbidity and mortality and impoverishing entire households. Vulnerable groups are the most affected and the detrimental effect of user fees is not only slowing progress towards the Fast-Track Targets but more importantly increasing inequities and affecting the right to health. Leadership to mobilize partners and change policies is central to defining the next steps towards identifying country-tailored solutions to move away from user fees.

Speakers       

Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

WHO representative

With contributions from the Health Ministers of Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria

Hosts              UNAIDS, PEPFAR, the Global Fund, WHO

Focal points   Victor Bampoe | bampoev@unaids.org / Iris Semini | seminii@unaids.org

 

Thursday, 24 May

Event              Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ministerial meeting

Date                24 May 2018, 8:00–9:30

Where             UNAIDS, Kofi A. Annan Conference Room

Overview        ECOWAS health ministers will come together to strengthen their common understanding of addressing the health needs of the ECOWAS region. Topics under discussion will include: innovative strategies for reducing maternal and child mortality; development of quality standards and charter marks for centres of excellence; medicines and vaccines—regional production and quality; improving the prevention and control of noncommunicable and communicable diseases; and health information.

Host                West African Health Organization

Focal points   Sylvie Daouda | daoudas@unaids.org / Joy Backory | backoryj@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.

High-level side event at the United Nations General Assembly chaired by President Museveni of Uganda in collaboration with UNAIDS

Ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 requires renewed urgency. In collaboration with UNAIDS, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is bringing world leaders together at a high-level side event during the United Nations General Assembly to reinvigorate political leadership around HIV. He will make a call to all countries to adopt the UNAIDS Fast-Track approach to achieve the global and regional targets as outlined in the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS.

Speakers will clearly demonstrate that the Fast-Track approach to ending AIDS is working and the positive impact it is having on health systems and on the broader sustainable development goals in Africa and beyond. There will be a strong call for political leadership to build momentum and deliver on the shared agenda of ending AIDS by 2030.

EVENT           Fast-Track: Quickening the pace of action to end AIDS

DATE              Thursday, 21 September 2017, 09:00–10:30, EST  (The event will be webcasted live from the UNAIDS Facebook page and from webtv.un.org)

WHERE          Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States of America

SPEAKERS   

His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Uganda

His Excellency President Hage Geingob, Namibia

His Excellency President Alpha Condé, Guinea

His Majesty King Mswati III, Swaziland

His Excellency President Arthur Peter Mutharika, Malawi

His Excellency President Danny Faure, Seychelles

His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zambia

Right Honourable Prime Minister Dr Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, Lesotho

His Excellency Vice-President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana

His Excellency Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana, Madagascar

Mr Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS, co-organizer

Ambassador Deborah Birx, United States of America

Madame Line Renaud, French singer and AIDS activist

Her Excellency Lorena Castillo de Varela, First Lady of Panama

Ms Jacquelyne Alesi, civil society representative, Uganda

ACCREDITATION NOTE:

Only journalists accredited to the United Nations General Assembly will be able to attend the event. Accredited media will need to contact the United Nations Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU) for a ticket: tel. +1 (212) 963-6934/malu@un.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.

WHAT         21st International AIDS conference

WHEN        18–22 July 2016

WHERE      Durban International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa

DETAILS    AIDS 2016 aims to assess where the world is in the response to HIV, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learned and collectively chart a course forward. The AIDS 2016 programme will present new scientific knowledge and will offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. A variety of session types—from abstract-driven presentations to symposia, bridging and plenary sessions—will meet the needs of various participants. Other related activities, including the Global Village, satellite symposia, the exhibition and affiliated independent events, will contribute to an exceptional opportunity for professional development and networking. The programme and further information on the conference can be accessed at www.AIDS2016.org.

Press releases and web stories on the conference and side events will be updated as available at www.unaids.org.

Media accreditation

Media accreditation is closed, but media passes will be available for individual press conferences from the media centre, located on the lower level of the conference centre.

Media contacts

International AIDS Society | Mandy Sugrue | Tel: +41 79 539 08 83 | mandy.sugrue@iasociety.org

UNAIDS | Sophie Barton-Knott | +41 79 514 6896 | bartonknotts@unaids.org

Webcasting

Live coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope and Instagram. Digital hub is at www.crowd360.org/aids2016.

Multimedia—videos will be posted on the AIDS 2016 YouTube channel within 24–48 hours of the session.

Photo galleries—a selection of photos from different events can be seen at http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/multimediacentre/photos/AIDS2016 and on http://aids2016.org.

Video—materials will be available on the UNAIDS YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/UNAIDS.

Social media—the main hashtag for the conference is #AIDS2016. UNAIDS suggested social media materials can be found at http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/AIDS2016/socialmedia.

Web site—stories on different events can be accessed at www.unaids.org. 

UNAIDS Communications Focal Point | Alasdair Reid | +41 79 594 1923 | reida@unaids.org

Media interviews | Sophie Barton-Knott | +41 22 791 1697 / +41 79 514 6896 | bartonknotts@unaids.org

OPENING CEREMONY

Monday, 18 July

Venue: Durban ICC Session Room 1

19:30–21:00

The opening session welcomes delegates to the conference and to Durban and is held on Nelson Mandela Day, when South Africa and the world celebrates Madiba’s legacy on human rights and HIV.

Speakers and performers include: Kweku Mandela, Africa Rising; Charlize Theron, Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project; Chris Beyrer, Johns Hopkins University; Olive Shisana, Evidence-Based Solutions; Nkhensani Mavasa, Treatment Action Campaign; Steve Letsike, South African National AIDS Council; Willies Mchunu, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal; Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director; Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa; Ndaba Mandela, Africa Rising; Caroline Rupert, Filmmaker; Strong Girls; Freshlyground.

SESSIONS AND SATELLITES

Tuesday, 19 July

07:00–08:30

A global partnership to end paediatric AIDS by 2020

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 7

 

07:00–08:30     

Political leadership—has this concept strengthened or hampered the AIDS response over the last two decades?

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 11

This session, jointly hosted by the South African Presidency and the Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation in Africa and supported by UNAIDS, will ask the question, “What role will political leadership play in ensuring sustainability with respect to resources, upholding the rights of key populations and securing robust accountability frameworks in Africa and across the globe?”

 

09:00–10:00

Launch of the Kenyan HIV situation room

Venue: Durban ICC, UNAIDS office space on the lower level, Meeting Rooms 2 and 3     

Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, will join a demonstration of how real-time collection, analysis and use of national and subnational HIV epidemiological and response data can assist in identifying the locations and populations that are being left behind by the AIDS response.

 

11:00–12:00

Leadership workshop—Common at its core: understanding the linkages for challenging the impact of criminal law across key populations

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 3

 

13:00–14:00

Red Ribbon Awards

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 2

Ten exceptional community-based organizations will be announced as recipients of the 2016 Red Ribbon Award for their inspiring work towards ending the AIDS epidemic. The Red Ribbon Award is the world’s leading award for innovative and outstanding community work in the response to the AIDS epidemic. Community-based organizations have shown the world how to effectively advance the HIV response and the Red Ribbon Award recognizes their transformative achievements.

 

15:45–17:00

Turning the tide for adolescent girls and young women: how realizing gender equality and securing women’s human rights are essential for reaching the end of AIDS

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 1

This session will commence with Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, and Princess Tessy of Luxembourg presenting the Women and Girls Investigators Prize

 

16:30–18:00                             

Bridging session. The challenges of faith responses to the AIDS epidemic: data, diversity and dilemmas

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 11

                                               

18:30–20:30

Community innovations at the forefront of ending new HIV infections among children and enhancing women's health

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 11

 

18.30–20:30                             

High-level meeting—Implementation at the national and local level: revitalizing HIV combination prevention in the eastern and southern Africa region

Venue: Southern Sun Elangeni Maharani, 63 Snell Parade           

Co-hosted by the Governments of Zimbabwe and Kenya, UNAIDS, the United Nations Populations Fund and the Ford Foundation. This meeting provides an opportunity to obtain commitments on implementation to reach specific targets on HIV combination prevention and increased investment from ministers of health, education and gender.

 

Wednesday, 20 July

15:15–16:15

HPV, HIV and cervical cancer: leveraging synergies to save women’s lives

Venue: Durban ICC, Global Village Women’s Networking Zone

The World Health Organization, the United Nations Populations Fund and UNAIDS will launch a joint advocacy brief on HPV, HIV and cervical cancer.

 

Thursday, 21 July

15.30–17.30     

UNAIDS special session on key populations   

Venue: Durban ICC, UNAIDS office space on the lower level, Meeting Rooms 2 and 3     

 

Friday, 22 July

13:00–14:00     

UNAIDS special session—From commitments to actions: implications of the 2016 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS

Venue: Durban ICC, Session Room 1

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.