Each year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for every community and individual to honor the more than 32 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illness.
In 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally. Approximately 630,000 people died from HIV‑related causes in 2023. An estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2023.
Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever international day for global health. Each year has a theme, this year’s theme is: Take the rights path.
The world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected.
With human rights at the centre, with communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The path that ends AIDS is a rights path. Upholding the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and fostering inclusion of all communities, are essential for ending AIDS, for ensuring sustainable development and for human security. There is an urgent need to remove criminal and other laws which harm people’s rights, and an urgent need to enact laws and approaches which uphold the rights of every person. The mandates in the international human rights framework have the force of law, and communities have the right to hold duty-bearers accountable for adherence to the human rights commitments they have made.
The upholding of everyone’s human rights is an essential underpinning of an effective HIV response. This World AIDS Day is a call to action to protect everyone’s health by protecting everyone’s rights. Leaders need to take the rights path.
Sources: UNAIDS, World Health Organization, CDC
Miriam Kavanagh
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