On World AIDS Day 2025, the global community comes together under the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” calling for renewed commitment to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
Despite significant progress in recent decades, the global response is facing its most severe setback in years, with funding cuts and social inequalities threatening to unravel years of hard-won gains.
According to the latest UNAIDS report, 40.8 million people are living with HIV worldwide, with
1.3 million new infections occurring in 2024 alone.
Alarmingly, 9.2 million people still lack access to treatment, and the funding crisis has led to major disruptions in prevention services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The sharpest funding contractions have been felt in Africa, where HIV prevention budgets have been slashed by 30–70%, leaving millions at risk.
Despite these challenges, 2025 has seen remarkable innovations in HIV prevention.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently prequalified and approved the twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention, offering a powerful new tool for people who face barriers to regular adherence and stigma.
This long-acting option is expected to increase access to prevention for vulnerable populations, especially young women and girls, who remain disproportionately affected by new infections.
The global HIV response continues to be hampered by chronic underinvestment, overreliance on external aid, and persistent stigma and discrimination.
Human rights reversals, including punitive laws and restrictions on civil society, are deepening the risks for marginalized groups. Community-led services, which are vital for reaching key populations, are being deprioritized, further widening gaps in access to care.
Ending AIDS by 2030 will require a collective effort to strengthen health systems, ensure equal access to services, and invest in prevention and innovation. Community leadership and the dismantling of stigma and discrimination are central to this mission.
Governments and global partners must prioritize domestic funding and work with communities to develop resilient, inclusive responses that leave no one behind.
HIV is preventable, treatable, and with the right support, people can live long, healthy lives. Quick action, such as seeking Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours of possible exposure, can prevent infection and save lives. Emotional support and guidance are also crucial for those affected by HIV.
On this World AIDS Day, the world is reminded that overcoming disruptions and transforming the AIDS response is not just a health imperative but a moral one.
By reaffirming global solidarity and investing in prevention, innovation, and human rights, we move closer to a future free of AIDS.