As December 1st approaches, millions across the globe unite to observe World AIDS Day 2024, a day dedicated to reflecting on the fight against HIV/AIDS and reinforcing the universal right to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) stands at the forefront, partnering with leaders, healthcare providers, and communities to advocate for accessible, rights-based healthcare. This year’s theme, “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!,” challenges us to address the barriers hindering global progress toward ending AIDS by 2030.
The Power of a Rights-Based Approach to Healthcare
At the heart of this year’s World AIDS Day campaign lies the urgent need to prioritize rights-based healthcare. What does this mean in practical terms? A rights-based approach is more than just a theoretical framework—it’s a call for systemic change to ensure that every individual, regardless of their social identity, has access to the care they need without fear of discrimination.
For those living with HIV/AIDS, this approach is especially important. It is not only about providing medical services but also about dismantling the social, economic, and legal barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, transgender individuals, and people who inject drugs.
The Reality: Inequalities and Discrimination
Despite significant advancements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, inequalities persist. Stigma and discrimination remain two of the biggest hurdles people face when seeking HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Whether due to a lack of understanding or deliberate harm, these social factors continue to pose major challenges to health equity. In many parts of the world, including the WHO South-East Asia region, populations at higher risk of HIV infection, such as prisoners and marginalized groups, still struggle to access essential services.
As WHO’s Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, emphasizes, we must confront these inequities head-on. Marginalized populations, such as sex workers and men who have sex with men, bear the brunt of this epidemic and face challenges in accessing the healthcare they need. This is where a rights-based approach truly shines—creating environments where everyone, regardless of HIV status or social identity, can receive care without fear of exclusion.
HIV and Key Populations: The Ongoing Struggle
HIV remains a global challenge, with 39.9 million people living with HIV worldwide. The WHO South-East Asia region alone has approximately 3.9 million people living with the virus, accounting for 10% of the global burden. Despite efforts to reduce the incidence of new infections, approximately 1.3 million new cases were reported in 2023, undershooting the 2025 target of fewer than 370,000 new infections.
HIV remains disproportionately high among young key populations, particularly those aged 15-24 years. These individuals are especially vulnerable due to the lack of comprehensive sexual education, stigma, and the unique challenges they face in accessing HIV-related healthcare. Young people living with HIV often face profound emotional and social challenges, grappling with feelings of isolation and the stigma associated with their diagnosis.
Youth Engagement and Empowerment: Shaping the Future
A critical focus of this year’s World AIDS Day is the empowerment of youth. As Saima Wazed highlights, the Ministerial Declaration on Adolescent-Responsive Health Systems, adopted in October 2024, represents a significant step in creating inclusive health systems that cater to the needs of young people. This declaration emphasizes the importance of youth-friendly services, comprehensive sexual education, and legal protections to ensure that the voices of young people are heard and their needs addressed.
Incorporating youth perspectives into policy and service design is essential for creating healthcare systems that truly meet the needs of the next generation. Digital solutions, such as mobile health apps, online counseling, and telemedicine, offer promising avenues to reach youth in innovative and accessible ways. These tools can bridge the gap for those who are hard to reach through traditional healthcare systems.
The Path Forward: Access, Education, and Advocacy
As we approach the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, the path forward requires collaboration. Governments, international organizations, healthcare providers, and civil society must unite to ensure the availability of biomedical tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral treatments.
To achieve the 95-95-95 targets, we must ensure that 95% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment, and 95% achieve viral suppression. Access to these tools is essential for reducing the transmission of HIV and ensuring that every individual can live a healthy, vibrant life.
A Collective Commitment: “My Health, My Right!”
On this World AIDS Day, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to the right to health for all. By taking the rights path, we not only advocate for health equity but also empower communities to assert their rights, overcome discrimination, and ensure that every person living with HIV can declare, “My Health, My Right!“
Let us continue to fight the stigma and champion access to healthcare for everyone, everywhere. Together, we can achieve a future free of AIDS and create a world where human rights and health go hand in hand.