Message from the UN Secretary-General on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2023

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World AIDS Day comes at a crucial time.

AIDS-related deaths have fallen by almost 70% since 2004, the deadliest year on record, and the number of new HIV infections is at its lowest since the 1980s.

Yet even today, one person dies of AIDS every minute.

We can – and must – end the threat to public health by 2030.

To achieve this goal, we need to put this year’s theme into practice and “entrust leadership to communities”.

It is through communities that AIDS can be eliminated.

Whether it’s a question of access to the necessary treatment, services and support, or of campaigning on the ground to ensure that all people can exercise their right to health.

It is by supporting those on the front line that we will win the fight against AIDS.

Community leadership must therefore be at the heart of all HIV-related plans, programs, budgets and monitoring activities.

We must also remove the obstacles to this leadership, and ensure that local civil society groups can move forward with their essential work.

Above all, we need funding.

The fight against AIDS in low- and middle-income countries suffers from a shortfall of $8 billion a year.

In particular, we need to increase funding for local programs run by people living with HIV, as well as for community-led prevention initiatives.AIDS is not invincible.Let’s finish the job: let’s help communities put an end to this scourge in their neighborhoods, in their countries and around the world.

AIDS is not invincible.

Let’s finish the job: let’s help communities put an end to this scourge in their neighborhoods, in their countries and around the world.