Respect for everyone's human rights is essential to ending HIV, says UNAIDS

Despite huge progress, the world is not yet on track to end AIDS as a public health threat, the UN agency said on Tuesday. Of the 39.9 million people living with HIV, 9.3 million people are still not accessing life-saving treatment. Last year, 630 000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses, and 1.3 million people around the world newly acquired HIV. In at least 28 countries, the number of new HIV infections is on the rise. To bring down the trajectory of the pandemic, it is imperative that lifesaving programmes can be reached without fear by all who need them.

When girls are denied education; when there is impunity for gender-based violence; when people can be arrested for who they are, or who they love; when a visit to health services is dangerous for people because of the community they are from—the result is that people are blocked from being able to access HIV services that are essential to save their lives and to end the AIDS pandemic. To protect everyone’s health, we need to protect everyone’s rights.

Science continues to innovate against AIDS. Long-acting medicines that only need to be injected a few times a year could tip the scales but only if a human rights approach is taken to share the technology to bring down prices and enable production in every part of the world.

UNAIDS new report brings together the latest research, case studies, and recommendations for getting the world on track. It includes guest essays by Elton John, by Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba, by Irish President Michael D. Higgins, by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and by former President of the International AIDS Society Adeeba Kamarulzaman amongst others. It provides a clear roadmap: Take the rights path to end AIDS.

Source: UNTV CH

Restrictions: NONE

Language: English/French/NATS

Dateline: 27 November 2024 Geneva, Switzerland

TRT: 3:06

Speakers:

• Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
• Axel Bautista, Community Engagement Manager, MPact, Mexico City
• Alexandra Calmy, Head of HIV Services, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
• Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima, Chair of the National Association for Support for HIV+ people living with AIDS, Burundi
• Berthilde Gahongayire, Regional Director, West and Central Africa region, UNAIDS

SHOTLIST

1. Wide UN Geneva Press Room with panellists
2. Moderator (wearing red ribbon) speaking with panellists
3. Christine Stegling holding up report
4. SOT (English) -- Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS
5. “We have come so far in the HIV response. Progress has been driven by biomedical advances, and advances in the protection of human rights and by community activism but big gaps remain in the protection of human rights and these gaps are keeping the world from getting on the path that ends AIDS.”
6. CU Photographer, Medium-wide press room, two photographers
7. SOT (French) Alexandra Calmy, Head of HIV Services, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland “L’année 2024 a été marquée par une véritable révolution dans le domaine de la prévention du VIH. Je pèse mes mots : une révolution, comparable à celle que nous avons connue en 1996 avec l’avènement des trithérapies. Des études ont en effet démontré que deux injections annuelles (lenacapavir) permettent de protéger presque entièrement une population de jeunes femmes particulièrement à risque d’acquisition du VIH en Afrique subsaharienne. Cette avancée est remarquable dans un domaine où aucun vaccin n’est actuellement disponible, et où aucun vaccin ne semble prêt à l’être dans les cinq prochaines années. Cette révolution dans la prévention mérite d’être saluée et accompagnée, afin qu’elle soit rendue accessible et disponible dans les meilleurs délais pour les populations concernées.” English translation: “The year 2024 has been marked by a true revolution in HIV prevention. I weigh my words carefully: a revolution, comparable to the breakthrough of combination therapies in 1996. Indeed, studies have shown that two annual injections (lenacapavir) can almost completely protect a population of young women at high risk of acquiring HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. This advancement is remarkable in a field where no vaccine is currently available and none is expected to be ready in the next five years. This revolution in prevention deserves to be celebrated and supported so that it can be made accessible and available as quickly as possible to vulnerable populations.”
8. Wide Panellists with Alexandra Calmy in monitors
9. Axel Bautista, Community Engagement Manager, MPact, Mexico City (English) “In 63 countries same sexual relations are criminalized. People living with HIV continue to be criminalized. Criminalization exacerbates fear, persecution, hate, violence and discrimination and it has a negative impact on public health. Queer people are left vulnerable, at increased risk, feeling isolated and excluded. Criminalization means more people will be in danger and more lives will end. We cannot end HIV unless we end criminalization.”
10. Axel finishing and leaving podium
11. Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima, Chair of the National Association for Support for HIV+ people living with AIDS, Burundi (French) “Lorsque Guy Bertrand, mon bébé, a été (en 1986), diagnostiqué séropositif, le médecin l’a chassé de l’hôpital pour aller mourir à la maison. Il fallait qu’il libère la place pour d’autres enfants qui pouvaient être sauvés. Plus tard un autre médecin, sans mon consentement, m’a enlevé l’utérus ... j’ai eu l’impression qu’on m’a volé ma féminité à l'âge tendre de 25 ans. On peut terminer, on peut en finir avec le VIH mais la voie royale pour y arriver ça sera la voie des droits.” English translation: “When my baby, Guy Bertrand was diagnosed with HIV (in 1986), the doctor chased him away from the hospital to die at home. He wanted to free up space to make room for other kids who could be treated. Aftewards another doctor took out my uterus at the tender age of 25. I felt robbed of my femininity. We can end AIDS, finish it but there is only one way and this is by respecting human rights.” Editor’s note: In 1986, there was no HIV treatment thus a person born or living with HIV had no way to live a long and healthy life. Currently, when an HIV+ woman takes her antiretroviral medicine, she can give birth to an HIV- baby (she will not transmit the virus during pregnancy, or breastfeeding.)

1. Wide panellists, Moderator thanking Jeanne
2. Wide press conference room

Respect for everyone's human rights is essential to ending HIV, says UNAIDS

Despite huge progress, the world is not yet on track to end AIDS as a public health threat, the UN agency said on Tuesday. Of the 39.9 million people living with HIV, 9.3 million people are still not accessing life-saving treatment. Last year, 630 000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses, and 1.3 million people around the world newly acquired HIV. In at least 28 countries, the number of new HIV infections is on the rise. To bring down the trajectory of the pandemic, it is imperative that lifesaving programmes can be reached without fear by all who need them.

When girls are denied education; when there is impunity for gender-based violence; when people can be arrested for who they are, or who they love; when a visit to health services is dangerous for people because of the community they are from—the result is that people are blocked from being able to access HIV services that are essential to save their lives and to end the AIDS pandemic. To protect everyone’s health, we need to protect everyone’s rights.

Science continues to innovate against AIDS. Long-acting medicines that only need to be injected a few times a year could tip the scales but only if a human rights approach is taken to share the technology to bring down prices and enable production in every part of the world.

UNAIDS new report brings together the latest research, case studies, and recommendations for getting the world on track. It includes guest essays by Elton John, by Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba, by Irish President Michael D. Higgins, by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and by former President of the International AIDS Society Adeeba Kamarulzaman amongst others. It provides a clear roadmap: Take the rights path to end AIDS.