Huge progress has been made since 2000 and millions of lives have been saved. But there are still important milestones to reach, barriers to break and frontiers to cross. The world has agreed to meet a set of global targets by 2020 as part of UNAIDS Fast-Track strategy to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.

Zero Discrimination Day is an opportunity to join together against discrimination and celebrate everyone’s right to live a full and productive life with dignity. Gender, nationality, age, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, language or any other status should never be a reason to discriminate.

Ending AIDS by 2030 is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals, which United Nations Member States adopted unanimously in 2015. The lessons learned in responding to HIV will play an instrumental role in the success in achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals, notably Sustainable Development Goal 3, good health and well-being, and the goals on gender equality and women’s empowerment, reduced inequalities, global partnerships and just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

We present here the stories of women in six countries in eastern and southern Africa—Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia—joining them in their journey to motherhood. Their tales demonstrate the courage, tenacity and support that is needed to ensure children remain free from HIV infection and that their mothers stay alive and well. We hope that by reading their stories, you will be inspired to action and that you too will join us in ending the AIDS epidemic among children.

Working together, cities can take local actions for global impact. Leveraging our reach, infrastructure and human capacity, cities will build a more equitable, inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for all of our residents—regardless of gender, age, social and economic status or sexual orientation.