30 November 2016: At a special event to commemorate World AIDS Day 2016, participants noted that while considerable achievements have been made, there is a need to accelerate the pace of progress to achieve the commitment to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Hosted by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the event, titled ‘Moving Forward Together: Leaving No One Behind,’ also honored UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for leadership in the AIDS response.

At the gathering in New York, US, on 30 November 2016, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé thanked Ban for putting the dignity of vulnerable people at the front of his personal fights, and presented him the UNAIDS Leadership Award. Ban remarked that hatred and bigotry spread disease, silence equals death, and tolerance and awareness help stop AIDS. He added that, while he will retire from UN Secretary-General functions at the end of December 2016, he will continue to stand with everyone until “we achieve an AIDS-free world.”

UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Peter Thomson called for developing targeted strategies on HIV/AIDS that will reach all vulnerable populations, including: children and young people; women and adolescent girls; sex workers; people who use drugs; men who have sex with men; transgender persons; persons with disabilities; prisoners; and migrants. He said that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and of the political declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted by UN Member States at the UNGA High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, on 8 June 2016. The political declaration, titled ‘HIV and AIDS: On the Fast-Track to Accelerate the Fight against HIV and to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030,’ includes a set of specific, time-bound targets and actions that must be achieved by 2020 if the world is to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Kenneth Cole, chairman of amfAR and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, characterized HIV/AIDS as one of the worst public health crisis of all times. He warned that many young people are still not aware of untreated HIV, and there is an unprecedented increase of infections in young women in Sub-saharan Africa. He called for implementing resources effectively and for maintaining the will to end the epidemic. Naomi Campbell, actor, model and activist, said “leaving no one behind” includes standing in solidarity with the millions of women who are dying from AIDS.

UNAIDS reports that 18.2 million people are now on antiretroviral therapy, and that 15–24 years of age is a highly dangerous time for young women.

Ahead of World AIDS Day, UNAIDS issued the report, titled ‘Get on the Fast-Track: the Life-Cycle Approach to HIV.’ The report states that 18.2 million people are now on antiretroviral therapy, and warns that 15–24 years of age is a highly dangerous time for young women. It shows how HIV risks and challenges change as people go through life, and how they are particularly vulnerable to HIV at precise moments in their lives, stressing the need for a life cycle approach to find solutions for every stage.

Also on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2016, Helen Clark, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, highlighted the UNDP Strategy on HIV, Health and Development 2016-2021. She said the strategy recognizes that many areas of development have an impact on health, and that multi-sectoral, rights-based, and gender-sensitive approaches are essential to addressing HIV and health-related development challenges.

World AIDS Day, observed since 1998, seeks to commemorate people who lost their lives to HIV, acknowledge progress made in responding to the epidemic and recommit to ending the AIDS epidemic. It is observed worldwide on 1 December each year. This year’s World’s AIDS Day is taking place on the theme ‘Hands up for #HIVprevention.’ [World AIDS Day Website] [Special Event ‘Moving Forward Together’ Programme] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNGA President Statement] [Event Press Release] [UNAIDS Leadership Award Press Release] [Get on the Fast-Track: the Life-Cycle Approach to HIV] [UN Press Release on Political Declaration on Ending AIDS] [UNDP Administrator Statement] [UNRIC Press Release] [IISD Sources]