World: Ending AIDS as a public health threat is within reach. Now, political action must deliver

Country: World Source: UN Development Programme AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, comes at a turning point in the epidemic. The global community must seize the opportunity to end the worst epidemic the world has seen. NEW YORK – The upcoming 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (26-31 July) with the theme “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise. ” offers a rallying point for the HIV response at a time of profound change. Over the past two years, an unprecedented funding crisis in global health has caused major cutbacks to HIV programmes – notably around prevention – undermining efforts to end AIDS. UNAIDS data from 62 countries shows that the number of people receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at least once declined by 38% between 2024 and 2025, including in countries heavily affected by HIV. Last year 570, 000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses. At the same time, the advent of new long-acting prevention tools that are almost 100 percent successful at preventing HIV transmission could revolutionize the response if they become more widely accessible. We must now combine the tools, the knowledge and the demand from communities with the political will, policies and resources to turn scientific breakthroughs into real progress for communities. AIDS 2026, the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS, will unite people living with HIV, researchers, policy makers, healthcare professionals, funders, media and communities in Rio de Janeiro to chart a way forward. As the meeting kicks-off, UNDP continues to advocate for equitable prevention and treatment access; the removal of punitive laws, stigma, discrimination and harmful policies; sustainable financing driven by countries; and critical investment in civil society and communities. UNDP has supported several grantees from its Power of Prevention program in Southern Africa and a fellow from the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship to attend AIDS 2026. Five key population-led organizations will be sharing their experiences supporting the rollout of long-acting prevention in diverse communities in Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This includes strategic advocacy for funding and the right policies. In concert with the broader network of the 22 Power of Prevention grantees, they have issued a Prevention Manifesto outlining what is needed for equitable prevention access. The Manifesto, a living document that will be updated every six months, highlights the importance of communities most affected by HIV leading the response to accelerate prevention uptake, identify gaps in service delivery and ensure new technologies reach the people who need them most. HIV remains a reminder that health outcomes are shaped not only by science, but also by rights, gender equality, social inclusion, and whether people can access services free from stigma, discrimination and criminalization. Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of UNDP’s Prosperity and Wellbeing Hub stated, “Community-led groups have been backbone of the HIV response for decades. As we push for all to have access to long-acting HIV prevention and treatment, it is critical that we continue to uplift and honour the voices and experience of networks of people living with HIV and key populations. They are the bridge that connects people who are left behind to safe health services, sharing vital information, and enabling adherence – down to the last mile, even in the most challenging contexts. ” Knowledge Mupembe, who is attending the IAC representing the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network added: “Equitable HIV prevention means ensuring that key and vulnerable populations are not left behind — they must have the same access to prevention services including long-acting PrEP, and treatment options as everyone else, free from stigma, discrimination, and criminalization. ” You can follow UNDP’s updates from the conference via UNDP’s corporate and Health and HIV X accounts. For media queries: Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, New York | email: sangita. khadka@undp. org.

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