Meet Reena Mistry a 23-year-old woman from Surat, India, who aspires to a career in the civil service. She also holds an orange belt in Karate, writes content and lives with HIV. She has managed to become financially independent, thanks to a skills development and livelihood project of the International Labour Organization () implemented by the Gujarat State Network of Positive People, with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (). Reena has faced stigma from society because of her status. But she wants people to understand that this is a manageable condition, and that we can lead the same lives as everyone else.
UNAIDS
A new warns that critical decisions made this year will determine if the world meets its 2030 goal to end AIDS as a public health threat, highlighting a severe funding shortfall and rising infections that threaten progress.
The says that Member States must guarantee the rights of all people, regardless of history, culture or social norms. However, around the world, people continue to face discrimination, criminalization and violence purely because of their sexual orientation and identity.
Earlier this year, Secretary-General António Guterres promised that the UN “firmly stands with the LGBTIQ+ community and will continue working until human rights and dignity are a reality for all peopleâ€.
But what does that mean in practical terms, and how is the UN helping this community?
Listen to the with Beatriz Barral from UN News, Michael Van Gelderen from the UN High Commission for Human Rights and Chris Mallouris from .
We can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. On , 1 March, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity. This year is the tenth anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day. Upholding everyone’s rights is the responsibility of us all. Everyone can play a part in ending discrimination. On 1 March, and during the whole month of March, events, activities and messages will remind the world of this vital lesson and call to action: to protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.
A new report shows that there is a clear path that ends AIDS that will help prepare for and tackle future pandemics and advance progress towards achieving the SDGs.
As we together to celebrate Pride Month, stands in solidarity with LGBTQI communities – a reminder of our commitment to human rights, equality and decriminalized same-sex relationships.
Around the world, 67 countries still criminalise same sex relations, with 10 imposing the death penalty. 20 countries criminalise gender diversity. Such laws hurt the public health of everyone, costing lives. Public health and human rights go hand in hand. reports that in countries where same sex relations are criminalised, HIV prevalence is five times higher among gay men and men who have sex with men than in countries where same sex relations are not criminalised. Where there have been recent prosecutions, this increases to 12 times higher.
UNAIDS marks (1 March) this year under the theme “Save lives: Decriminalise.†Criminal laws targeting key populations and people living with HIV violate people’s human rights exacerbate the stigma people face and put people in danger by creating barriers to the support and services they need to protect their health. Criminalisation increases vulnerability and drives discrimination and structural inequalities. It robs people of the prospect of healthy and fulfilling lives. And it holds back the end of AIDS. We must end criminalisation to save lives.
The marks a step up to ensure that all children with HIV have access to life saving treatment and that mothers living with HIV have babies free from HIV.
determined earlier this year that the AIDS response is in danger—with rising new infections and continuing deaths in many parts of the world. Now, a new UNAIDS report, , shows that inequalities are the underlying reason why. The report shows that urgent action to tackle inequalities can get the AIDS response on track. It sets out how worsening financial constraints are making it more difficult to address those inequalities. The report also shows how gender inequalities and harmful gender norms are holding back the end of the AIDS pandemic.
Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them. This World AIDS Day, is urging each of us to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS. The “Equalize†slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS.
is calling on countries to challenge the inequalities and injustices that are obstructing efforts to end the HIV pandemic and weakening responses to other health threats.
talks this week with for their podcast ‘’. Jon is an adventurer, traveller, former ballet dancer and above all – walker. He has set out on a staggering journey – to go around the world on foot, visiting each of the world’s 7 Modern Wonders, a massive journey of over 80,000 kilometres. Jon’s motivation for his mega walk is to raise awareness and understanding of HIV. He reflects on his own fear of being infected with the disease as a teenager, a fear that grew to the point that he became celibate.
Globally, only half (52%) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults where three quarters (76%) are receiving antiretrovirals, according to the data that has just been released in the . Concerned by the stalling of progress for children, and the widening gap between children and adults, , , and partners have brought together a global alliance to ensure that no child living with HIV is denied treatment by the end of the decade and to prevent new infant HIV infections.
Punitive laws have been shown to block HIV service access and increase HIV risk. Decriminalization is a critical element to end AIDS by 2030.