World AIDS day report 2021: unequal, unprepared, under threat, why bold action against inequalities is needed to end AIDS, stop COVID-19 and prepare for future pandemics

The 2021 World AIDS Day report warns that COVID-19 threatens the gains made against AIDS, particularly during the first six months of the crisis. HIV programmes that are well-resourced, willing to adapt, and anchored in strong community involvement have tended to cope the best. The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 and the UN General Assembly's 2021 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS call on countries to address inequalities and close gaps, but those actions are not being made at the required speed and scale. The hard-won successes and bitter failures from the response to AIDS have lessons to share to end AIDS within the next decade, defeat COVID-19, and proactively confront the pandemics of tomorrow.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 71 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: United Nations

The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) releases a comprehensive report on World AIDS Day, held annually on December 1. This year's report, particularly in the context of the overlapping AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics, highlights the urgent challenges facing the global response to the AIDS pandemic. The report cautions that the colossal new challenges posed by COVID-19 risk undoing the significant strides made in combating AIDS thus far. The pandemic has witnessed substantial setbacks, particularly during the initial six months of the crisis. Individuals living with HIV face heightened risks of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. In numerous regions, the disruptions caused by COVID-19 have prompted the ingenuity and resilience that have become defining features of the HIV response. HIV programs that possess adequate resources, exhibit a willingness to adapt, and are firmly rooted in robust community engagement have tended to fare the best in navigating these challenges.

The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 and the United Nations General Assembly's 2021 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS emphasize the need to address inequalities and close gaps in the fight against AIDS. However, the urgency of these actions is not being met at the required pace and scale. The stakes are higher than AIDS alone. As negotiations unfold for a global framework to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics, the response to AIDS offers valuable lessons and experiences. These lessons must be swiftly absorbed and applied to achieve the ultimate goal of ending AIDS within the next decade. It is crucial to swiftly defeat COVID-19 and proactively address the pandemics of tomorrow. By leveraging the lessons learned from the past and adopting a comprehensive and coordinated approach, we can build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.

Dimension: 300 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789211015041