UNAIDS

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, commonly known as UNAIDS, is an innovative partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. Established in 1994 by a resolution of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and launched in January 1996, UNAIDS brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organizations to unite the world against AIDS.

History

UNAIDS was created in response to the growing global HIV/AIDS epidemic and the need for a coordinated international response. Prior to its establishment, the World Health Organization's Global Programme on AIDS was the primary body addressing the epidemic. However, the complexity and scale of the crisis necessitated a broader, more integrated approach, leading to the formation of UNAIDS.

Structure

UNAIDS is governed by a Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) that includes representatives from 22 governments, the ten co-sponsoring organizations, and five non-governmental organizations, including associations of people living with HIV. The co-sponsoring organizations are:

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• World Food Programme (WFP)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Bank
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Objectives

UNAIDS aims to:

• Provide global leadership in response to the AIDS epidemic.
• Achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support.
• Strengthen the capacity of countries to develop comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategies and implement effective responses.
• Promote partnerships among governments, the private sector, and civil society.
• Mobilize resources to support the global response to HIV/AIDS.

Key Initiatives

UNAIDS has launched several key initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS, including:

• 90-90-90 Targets: A global strategy to ensure that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
• Fast-Track Cities: An initiative to accelerate local AIDS responses in cities and urban areas.
• Global AIDS Monitoring: A framework for countries to report on their progress in responding to the epidemic.

Impact

Since its inception, UNAIDS has played a crucial role in reducing the global impact of HIV/AIDS. The organization has helped to:

• Increase access to antiretroviral therapy, saving millions of lives.
• Reduce the number of new HIV infections.
• Decrease AIDS-related deaths.
• Combat stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

Challenges

Despite significant progress, UNAIDS faces ongoing challenges, including:

• Addressing the needs of key populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
• Ensuring sustainable funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
• Overcoming legal and policy barriers that hinder effective responses.

Also see

• HIV/AIDS
• World Health Organization
• Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Antiretroviral therapy
• Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS