The world can end AIDS by 2030 if human rights are at the center of the effort, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said in a statement on the occasion of the World Aids Day.  

Titled “Take the rights path to end AIDS,” the report outlines how stigma, discrimination, and punitive laws hinder progress in the fight against HIV.

“Despite significant advancements in HIV treatment and prevention, human rights violations continue to block access to essential services,” the report said.

In 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV, 1.3 million contracted the virus, and 630,000 succumbed to HIV-related causes.

A Lancet study called for intensified efforts  to bring HIV under control at this “pivotal moment.”

“A major challenge is the number of new HIV infections every year, with an estimated 1·3 million people newly infected in 2023. Prevention efforts in some regions have lost momentum and renewed focus will be needed to reverse this trajectory,” said the study..  

“Despite the medical triumphs, people from key populations continue to face human rights violations, stigma, discrimination, punitive laws, and policies that hinder engagement with HIV services,” the Lancet added.

Although deaths from AIDS have declined since 2010, many people still present with advanced HIV disease, leading to deaths.  

Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said “We must confront the inequalities that hinder our journey toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending AIDS by 2030.” 

“A rights-based approach is not just a strategy; it is a commitment to uphold the dignity, health, and autonomy of every individual, especially those with vulnerabilities and are most at-risk. We must boldly tackle the stigma and discrimination that stand as formidable barriers to accessing prevention, treatment, and care.”

 In the WHO South-East Asia Region alone, there are approximately 3.9 million people living with HIV (PLHIV), representing 10% of the global burden. In 2023, 78% of PLHIV in the region knew their status, 66% had received lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 64% had suppressed viral load among people living with HIV, Wazed said.

Similarly, there are 80 000 children and adolescents aged 0–14 estimated to be living with HIV, comprising 2% of total HIV cases in the region, predominantly due to transmission from  mother-to-child.

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