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AIDS (Disease)

European Union Reaffirms Commitment to Ending AIDS as a Public Health Threat by 2030

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Since the start of the HIV epidemic, over 42 million lives have sadly been lost, but tremendous progress has also been made, with more countries nearing the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. The world must stay engaged as new infections rise in many regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where girls and young women are twice as likely to become infected with HIV than boys and men. The European Union (EU) has issued a news release reaffirming its commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and calls on all actors to support a successful eight replenishment of the Global Fund this fall.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU has reaffirmed its full commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, reaffirming its Declaration of Commitment and the Political Declarations on HIV/AIDS.
  • Over 42 million lives have been lost since the start of the HIV epidemic, but progress has been made, with more countries nearing the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.
  • The world must stay engaged as new infections rise in many regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where girls and young women are twice as likely to become infected with HIV than boys and men.
  • The EU is committed to a holistic approach to ending AIDS, including universal access to antiretroviral treatment (ART), primary prevention methods, and innovative prevention technologies like long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
  • The EU supports the promotion, protection, and fulfilment of all human rights, including the right to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and calls for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, and health-care services.
  • The EU is fully committed to multilateralism and a continued global effort towards fighting HIV/AIDS, welcoming efforts of low- and middle-income countries to increase domestic financing for HIV/AIDS.
  • The EU has disbursed EUR 3.5 billion to the Global Fund since 2002 and pledged EUR 715 million for 2023-2025, supporting WHO, UNAIDS, and the Global Fund's efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.
  • The EU calls on all actors to support a successful eight replenishment of the Global Fund this fall and supports UNAIDS's call for synergy between the AIDS response and broader health efforts.
  • The SafeBirth Africa programme, supported by the Team Europe Initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa, has mobilized over EUR 20 million to improve access to life-saving commodities, reduce maternal mortality, and support the broader sexual and reproductive health agenda.

Statistics:

  • Over 42 million lives have been lost since the start of the HIV epidemic.
  • The EU has disbursed EUR 3.5 billion to the Global Fund since 2002.
  • The EU has pledged EUR 715 million for 2023-2025.
  • EUR 20 million has been mobilized by the SafeBirth Africa programme to improve access to life-saving commodities, reduce maternal mortality, and support the broader sexual and reproductive health agenda.

Sources:

  • European Union External Action Service
  • Declaration of Commitment and the Political Declarations on HIV/AIDS
  • UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets
  • Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
  • European Commission
  • WHO
  • UNFPA
  • Unitaid

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