United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for renewed political commitment and stronger international cooperation to accelerate efforts to end the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Addressing a high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly through Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Guterres urged governments, institutions and communities worldwide to intensify action and ensure that progress made over the past four decades is not reversed.

Guterres highlighted the significant achievements recorded since the first reported case of AIDS 45 years ago. He noted that sustained political commitment, scientific advances and investments from governments and international partners have dramatically reduced the impact of the disease. According to the UN chief, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 70 per cent since their peak in 2004 and by 54 per cent since 2010.

The Secretary-General also pointed to major advances in HIV prevention and treatment. New HIV infections have declined by 40 per cent since 2010, while more than 32 million people living with HIV are currently receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. These achievements, he said, demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated global action and the importance of maintaining support for evidence-based public health strategies.

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Despite the progress, Guterres warned that the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over. He noted that approximately 9.2 million people who require treatment were still unable to access HIV medicines at the end of 2024. The continued gaps in prevention, diagnosis and treatment services remain a major obstacle to achieving the international goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

To address these challenges, the UN chief outlined five key priorities. These include closing gaps in access to prevention, treatment and care services; ensuring that communities continue to play a leading role in the HIV response; protecting human rights; securing adequate and sustainable financing; and strengthening the spirit of multilateral cooperation that has driven progress against the disease for decades.

Guterres said the global HIV response serves as a powerful example of how solidarity across nations and sectors can overcome inequality, fear and injustice. He urged world leaders to use the current momentum to recommit to science, human dignity and shared responsibility. Emphasising that the objective of ending AIDS by 2030 remains achievable, he said success will depend on collective action from governments, institutions, healthcare providers and communities around the world.

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