In this context, community services, considered essential for reaching marginalized populations, were sidelined, while the increase in punitive laws that penalized same-sex relations, gender identity, and drug use deepened the crisis, limiting access to HIV services.
The global HIV response was disrupted in the months leading up to the commemoration, in a scenario that made it clear that AIDS has not ended. The commemoration represented a key opportunity to highlight the impact of cuts in international donor funding, while at the same time highlighting the resilience of countries and communities that intensified efforts to protect the progress made and advance the HIV response.
During 2025, the global HIV response faced a historic funding crisis that threatened to undo decades of progress, severely impacting HIV prevention services. It was also emphasized that the international community needed to act jointly to close the funding gap, support countries in closing persistent gaps in prevention and treatment, remove legal and social barriers, and empower communities to play a leading role.
The central message of World AIDS Day 2025 emphasized that political leadership was fundamental to drive policies aimed at addressing structural inequalities and protecting vulnerable populations.
Quote: "In the face of a crisis, the global response requires transformation, not retreat. There is still a possibility to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, but we must act with urgency, unity, and sustained commitment," said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
The commemoration concluded with a call to strengthen political leadership, international cooperation, and human rights-centered approaches, reaffirming that overcoming disruptions was an indispensable condition for transforming the AIDS response and meeting global commitments by 2030.
