New York, 1 December 2023 – As the world commemorates World AIDS Day under the theme “Let Communities Lead”, Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has underscored the pivotal role of communities in shaping the HIV response.
In a statement, Mr. Steiner highlighted the immense progress made towards ending AIDS as an epidemic, fueled by the meaningful participation of people living with HIV and other key populations. He noted that countries that have prioritized community leadership, such as Botswana and Zimbabwe, have achieved remarkable strides, surpassing the 95-95-95 testing and treatment targets ahead of the 2025 deadline.
“Decades of evidence have shown that laws, policies, and practices that criminalize people living with HIV and other key populations only serve to increase stigma, hinder access to essential services, and impede effective HIV responses,” Mr. Steiner stated. “The brand-new analysis by the O’Neill Institute, UNDP, and the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) clearly demonstrates the significant progress made on decriminalization, often driven by the courageous advocacy of communities.”
UNDP, working alongside key partners such as UNAIDS, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has been instrumental in empowering communities to lead and actively shape the HIV response. In Burundi, UNDP and the Global Fund are supporting community LGBTQI+ organizations that provide legal aid and psychosocial support. In Sudan, their recent collaboration will help sustain HIV treatment for 11,000 people during the ongoing conflict. And in the Dominican Republic and the Philippines, UNDP is ensuring that communities have a voice in national HIV plans and programs.
Despite the progress, Mr. Steiner cautioned against complacency, pointing to the worrying trend of introducing anti-LGBTQI+ laws and the persistent funding gap for HIV prevention programs among key populations. “As funding for HIV declines to 2013 levels and the estimated 90% funding gap for HIV prevention programs for key populations persists, there is an urgent need to not only increase funding but also to finance what works: including evidence- and rights-based combination prevention and treatment and the integration of HIV into Universal Health Coverage,” he emphasized.
As the world marks the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr. Steiner reiterated the collective responsibility to uphold these principles, including advancing non-discriminatory laws, promoting gender equality, and strengthening community-led responses. “As part of the United Nations family, UNDP is committed to supporting communities, especially people living with HIV and other key populations, to lead. This is a mission-critical step on the path to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” he concluded.