UNAIDS — ON OUR WAY TO THE 79th UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY!

UNAIDS is heading to the Summit of the Future and the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York to voice that at this moment of global crisis, the AIDS response proves what’s possible when leaders work boldly together.

The HIV response has, from a once a seemingly insurmountable crisis, achieved extraordinary progress through people-centred multilateral cooperation.

It has averted over 20 million HIV and AIDS-related deaths over the past three decades. Since 2010, AIDS-related deaths have declined by 51% globally, and new HIV infections have fallen by 38%.  Over 30 million of the 40 million people living with HIV now have access to life-saving treatment.

The end of AIDS as a public health threat could be realised this decade and stands as amongst the greatest public health successes of our time. It provides a beacon of hope and a source of practical solutions on effective ways to tackle current global challenges.

As the world stands at a crossroads, UNAIDS will demonstrate that global leaders can revitalise multilateralism, with people at the centre, and that by reaffirming their commitment to ending AIDS and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals they can ensure a safe, sustainable and fair future for all.

READ THE MEDIA ADVISORY

OUR MESSAGE TO WORLD LEADERS ON ENDING AIDS 

While celebrating the extraordinary successes achieved in the HIV response, AIDS is not over. UNAIDS will highlight that progress in the AIDS response cannot be taken for granted and that continued political and financial commitment is essential.

UNAIDS will call for strong multilateral collaboration—to fully and sustainably resource the response, to protect civic space and human rights, to ensure access to new and emerging technologies for all to prevent and treat HIV, and to invest in finding a vaccine and a cure.

UNAIDS will urge the global north to end to the debt crisis in the global south and will urge leaders to promote inclusivity, diversity and equality for a more sustainable, fairer, and healthier world.

WHAT IS UNAIDS CALLING FOR? 

• Unflinching political commitment and leadership to end AIDS  
• Willingness to follow the science, the data, and the evidence 
• Tackling the inequalities holding back progress, including harmful laws and policies, stigma and discrimination, gender inequalities 
• Equal access to affordable and effective medicines including new technologies to prevent and treat HIV
• Supporting, engaging and enabling community leadership and a community-led response 
• Continued, bold and relentless global efforts to find a vaccine for HIV and a cure for AIDS 
• Multilateral collaboration and an end to the debt crisis in the global south  
• Sufficient and sustainable funding to protect and advance HIV gains into the future

THE POWER OF YOUTH

Central to the HIV response is the power young people who play a critical role in driving positive change. This year, UNAIDS is supporting two inspirational young social media influencers and community leaders living with HIV. Jerop Limo from Kenya and Nomonde Ngema from South Africa will be urging leaders to ensure that young people are fully and meaningfully engaged in the AIDS response, that their voices are heard, that their experiences are understood and that leaders prioritize community-led approaches and the very specific needs of young people in access to HIV prevention, treatment and support.

To engage with Jerope and Nomonde at #UNGA79 contact: [email protected]

See below two inspirational video conversations with Nomonde and Jerop.

Young people living with HIV urge world leaders to partner with them in the AIDS response

SDG MOMENT

SDG Moment Dialogue with the UN Secretary General

OTHER KEY EVENTS FOR UNAIDS AT #UNGA79

24 September - 15:00 – 16:30 EST

Clinton Global Initiative: Executive roundtable discussion with Chelsea Clinton on "Health on the Horizon: Preparing for an Uncertain Future" 

The Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima will be speaking at the roundtable on why preparing for the future of health, including pandemic preparedness and maintaining the momentum to close health access gaps, remains paramount in 2024.
Learn more

25 September - 12:15 – 12:45 EST

DEVEX: Breaking barriers to access: Ensuring lifesaving medicines reach the people who need them

In this session the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima, will explore the role of policy, advocacy, and innovation to improve access to life-saving medicines, addressing the barriers that prevent equitable health outcomes worldwide. She will be joined by Nomonde Ngema from South Africa.

Register here: Devex @ UNGA 79

25 September - 12:15 – 12:45 EST

Foreign Policy Health Forum @ UNGA79: Expanding Access and Enhancing Resilience – 16:30 – 17:00

In this session Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS will engage in a fireside chat with Allison Carlson, Executive Vice President at Foreign Policy to discuss people-centric healthcare approaches to global policy solutions and pandemic preparedness.

Register here: https://invtdu.to/_en3jd

26 September – 07:15 - 09:30 EST

Communities of Faith Breakfast: Building Partnerships for a One-Community Response to HIV 

The Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima will be speaking as a panellist.
For more information contact: [email protected]

26 September – 13:00 - 15:00 EST

UNAIDS and Education Plus: Guaranteed Futures: Digital skills and digital opportunities for girls and young women in Africa

The Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima, Jerop and Nomonde will be speaking.
For more information contact: [email protected]

HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE 

• Follow UNAIDS at www.unaids.org / @UNAIDS 
• Follow all events at UNGA high-level week 
• Bring the dialogue to your local community and your local leaders 
• For more information please contact: [email protected]