- UNAIDS calls on world leaders to prioritize rights-based approaches
Sixteen global celebrities, including Hollywood actor Luke Evans and singer-songwriter Sia, have joined UNAIDS in urging world leaders to protect human rights, emphasizing that this is essential to ending the AIDS pandemic.
The campaign, titled “Take the Rights Path to End AIDS,” also features prominent voices such as actress Uzo Aduba, comedian Stephen Fry, fashion designer Tan France, and South African actress Thuso Mbedu, among others.
“The choice is clear if we want to end AIDS as a public health threat. World leaders must take the rights path to protect people’s right to health and life,” said Stephen Fry. “When human rights are respected, people can access healthcare, including HIV prevention and treatment.”
The UNAIDS report highlights that human rights violations, including the criminalization of LGBTQ+ individuals in 63 countries, are obstructing global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Comedian and poet Alok Vaid-Menon underscored this issue:
“In far too many countries, people are still criminalized for who they are or who they love. This drives them underground, away from vital health services.”
Discrimination against women and girls is another major barrier. In 2023, women and girls accounted for 62% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by limited access to education, healthcare, and protection from gender-based violence.
“When girls are denied education and young women cannot access HIV prevention or testing, their risk of infection increases significantly,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima.
Margaret Cho, actress and comedian, emphasized the broader impact:
“We all win the fight against AIDS when human rights and health rights are secured for everyone, everywhere.”
Despite progress, 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2023—far exceeding the global target of 370,000 new infections by 2025.
The UNAIDS World AIDS Day report reiterates that ending AIDS is achievable, but only if human rights are respected, ensuring equitable and accessible healthcare for all.
