UNAIDS warns of major setbacks in global HIV response, calls for renewed solidarity

A new report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Tuesday warns that the global HIV response has experienced its biggest setback in decades, urging reliance on solidarity, resilience, investment, and innovation to end the AIDS epidemic.

Titled "Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response," the report highlights the severe impact of reduced international funding and a lack of global solidarity on HIV prevention efforts.

Abrupt cuts to international HIV aid in 2025 have worsened existing funding gaps, the report said, citing an estimate from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that shows external health assistance is expected to decrease by 30-40 percent in 2025 compared to 2023, which will cause immediate and increasingly serious disruptions to health services in low- and middle-income countries.

The report shows that prevention services have been hit the hardest. Big cuts in HIV prevention medicines and sharp declines in voluntary medical male circumcision have widened the protection gap for millions. HIV prevention programs aimed at young women have also been dismantled, leaving many adolescent girls and young women without prevention, mental health, or gender-based violence services, which further increases their vulnerability. 

The report warned that failing to meet the 2030 global HIV targets outlined in the next Global AIDS Strategy could lead to an additional 3.3 million new HIV infections between 2025 and 2030.

Worldwide, 40.8 million people are living with HIV, 1.3 million new infections occurred in 2024, and 9.2 million people still lack access to treatment, according to UNAIDS.

Ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, UNAIDS urged global leaders to reaffirm their commitment to solidarity, multilateralism and the shared effort to end AIDS, including maintaining funding for the HIV response, investing in innovation, upholding human rights, and empowering communities.

"This is our moment to choose," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS. "We can allow these shocks to undo decades of hard-won gains, or we can unite behind the shared vision of ending AIDS. Millions of lives depend on the choices we make today."