At the 2026 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS held in New York on 22–23 June 2026, 149 Member States adopted a timely Political Declaration reaffirming their collective commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The High-Level Meeting sets out strategic priorities and targets for accelerated action over the next five years for achieving global AIDS targets. The adoption of the 2026 Political Declaration sends an important signal of continued political commitment to sustain progress against HIV, address emerging challenges, and protect hard-won gains in the global response.
What an honour to be making a remark at the UN General Assembly on the occasion of the UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS 2026.
Midnight, our Executive Director highlighted the HIV issues in Asia and the Pacific, and called on Member States to commit to a strong Political Declaration and support community leadership and community-led interventions.
Thank you Madam President.
Happy Pride everyone.
I would like to begin with some congratulations for the political leadership in Asia and the Pacific region:
– Cambodia being the first country in the region to reach 95-95-95 targets
– The Philippines – in a landmark decision has allowed same-sex couples to co-own property together
– Thailand now have same-sex marriage, the first in Southeast Asia and the inclusion of gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender people as part of the Universal Health Scheme
We need more of this kind of political leadership now as the devastating funding disruptions have exposed how vulnerable the global HIV responses remain.
Asia and the Pacific, remains home to the world’s second-largest HIV epidemic with around 7 million people are living with HIV.
Each year, an estimated 280,000 people acquire HIV and 120,000 die from AIDS-related illnesses.
Fiji, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, are grappling with some of the world’s fastest-rising HIV epidemics.
This High-Level Meeting and the new Political Declaration must respond to this reality and truly drive the political choices needed to sustain and transform the HIV response.
Prevention and community-led services remain heavily dependent on international funding.
Around 76% of HIV prevention spending in the region still comes from external sources, leaving outreach and community-led services for key populations exposed as international support declines.
Coverage of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis is only around 2.5% of what is needed. Yes – that’s an abysmal 2.5%.
Long-term sustainability requires more than replacing external funds. It means integrating HIV into universal health coverage, strengthening national systems to include community-led services, addressing societal barriers to services, and accelerating access to innovation.
Targeted donor support remains critical in this situation, and funds must go to the communities that are leading the response – sustainability will only matter if services reach people who are stigmatised, discriminated against, and criminalized for their behaviour, who they are, and who they love.
Across the Asia-Pacific region, the priority is to ensure that prevention, testing, treatment, and care reach those facing the greatest barriers, including people living with HIV, key populations, young people, and migrants.
The new UNAIDS report calls for integrated, differentiated and people-focused services.
What might seem like just another Political Declaration does actually change lives – that is why we the communities are engaged – because it matters. Because Lives are at stake.
Nothing About Us without Us.
Thank you.
See also:
APCOM’s work on previously HLM on HIV/AIDS
2021
2016
2011
