The theme of World AIDS Day this year is “Global solidarity, shared responsibility.” This comes at a pivotal time, as the U.S. works to rebuild its standing on the world stage, and the global COVID-19 pandemic serves as a daily reminder that no one is safe until everyone is safe.
We cannot leave people behind in our response to HIV/AIDS, if we are going to end the epidemic. We must eliminate stigma and discrimination, highlight the experiences of people living with or affected by HIV, and put human rights and gender-responsive approaches at the forefront of our efforts. That includes ensuring that the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people living with or at risk for HIV are respected and protected.
For too long, the global HIV response has failed to meet the needs of adolescent girls and young women, LGBTQ+ folks, and other key communities — like sex workers, people who use drugs, people who are incarcerated, and certain Indigenous or ethnic communities who face elevated risk. Now is the time to recommit to global coordination and meaningful action.
To truly demonstrate solidarity and shared responsibility in the global fight to end the HIV epidemic, the U.S. must take swift action by:
- Robustly investing in evidence-based HIV programs that meet the holistic needs of people living with and most at risk for HIV, including their right to sexual and reproductive health care and education.
- Actively coordinating with the international community, including by rejoining the World Health Organization and collaborating through the UN system.
- Permanently ending policy barriers like the Title X and global gag rules, which disrupt a range of health services, including HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.
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Tags: World AIDS Day, HIV/AIDS