Summary:
This article is authored by Gabriel Galil, interim United Nations programme manager at ILGA World
Recent developments: Advocacy at the Human Rights Council on HIV response
In March 2025, important conversations took place at the United Nations Human Rights Council about sustained responses to HIV.
These discussions are urgent, and occur at a time when both political and financial restrictions pose serious threats to HIV responses and the human rights of key populations.
The World Health Organization defines key populations as those at higher risk for HIV irrespective of epidemic type or local context — including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and individuals in prison and other closed settings.
ILGA World partnered with Frontline AIDS to provide support to community-led and regional organisations Gender Dynamix and Alliance for Public Health to ensure their voices were heard in Geneva, Switzerland.
Throughout the week, these organisations engaged with member State representatives from different regions and met with representatives of UN agencies, including the World Health Organization. These meetings were critical in bringing to decision-makers first-hand information about the successes and challenges for marginalised people most affected by HIV to access lifesaving services.
ILGA World also co-sponsored a side event at the UN Human Rights Council on 5 March, entitled “Ending AIDS for all: The critical role of human rights in a sustainable and equitable response”. Speakers highlighted that the global commitment to end AIDS by 2030 is threatened by funding cuts and ongoing human rights violations. They also called for urgent action from global leaders to recognise the essential role of human rights for a sustainable and equitable HIV response to reach people most affected by HIV.
Furthermore, ILGA World actively engaged with the HRC panel on HIV responses. ILGA World took the floor on behalf of 15 organisations working on various HIV-related issues worldwide, emphasising the importance of meeting the 10-10-10 societal enabler targets and addressing the financial challenges of HIV response, including the impacts of the U.S. freeze and cut of funds. Our statement was anchored in both political agreements and international obligations of States.
According to the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by consensus in 2015, States agreed to end the epidemics of AIDS by 2030.
Later, in 2021, States adopted the HIV Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, through which States committed to specific guidance: the 10-10-10 targets. These social enabler targets call on countries to repeal punitive laws and policies affecting key populations and to combat stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence.
According to these goals, less than 10% of countries should have punitive laws and policies by 2025 – including provisions that criminalise sex work, possession of small amounts of drugs, same-sex sexual behaviour, and HIV transmission, exposure, or nondisclosure.
Beyond political commitments, a human rights-based response to HIV is part of core States’ international obligations.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights clearly explained how they are an integral part of the right to health. States also have an obligation to take specific action to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with discriminatory laws on the grounds of sexual orientation, sex and gender identity and expression, health status (including drug dependency), or sex work.
A look back: ILGA World’s ongoing commitment to HIV and human rights
ILGA World has been stepping up efforts to ensure a comprehensive approach to the human rights of LGBTI persons in its UN advocacy work. Since 2021, ILGA World has closely followed Geneva-based negotiations on HIV/AIDS at the Human Rights Council, the World Health Assembly, and UNAIDS.
2021: Strengthening language in the HIV resolution
In 2021, ILGA World worked closely with UN Member States and civil society partners to strengthen the language of Human Rights Council resolution 47/14 on Human Rights and HIV.
The text focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and support. The resolution urged States to break the cycle of HIV transmission and ensure adequate healthcare, including specialized care for chronic conditions linked to aging and responses to drug-resistant strains of HIV and antimicrobial resistance.
Despite strong advocacy efforts, the resolution was put to a vote and was adopted with 42 votes in favour and 5 abstentions. This was unprecedented in the context of this resolution in the Human Rights Council: the Russian Federation tried to block consensus on HIV-related resolutions at the UN, following what they had done in the same year during the HIV/AIDS Political Declaration.
The subsequent report highlighted key findings, including the need to remove punitive and discriminatory laws, such as those criminalising consensual same-sex sexual activity, sex work, and drug use, to improve HIV responses.
The report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights requested by the resolution presented key findings on removing punitive legal and policy frameworks; reducing stigma and discrimination; and addressing gender inequalities and gender-based violence.
2022: Addressing global health strategies at the World Health Assembly
At the 75th World Health Assembly in 2022, ILGA World worked with partners to ensure the adoption of the Global Health Sector Strategies (GHSS) on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (2022-2030).
Despite opposition from some States to the inclusion of references to sexual orientation and sexuality education, the strategy was ultimately adopted with 61 votes in favour, 30 abstentions, and only 2 votes against.
This marked a significant step in ensuring a comprehensive and non-discriminatory approach to global health strategies, since it was the first time that such a document explicitly acknowledged discrimination based on sexual orientation as an obstacle to implementation of Global Health Strategies.
The voting was an unprecedented move by States trying to oppose language on sexual orientation. ILGA World and key allies supported UN member States to ensure that the strategy was adopted with the technical language put forward by the WHO.
2023: Advocacy at the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board meeting
In 2023, ILGA World also provided strategic guidance to UN member States that are part of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board in the adoption of the decisions of their 53rd meeting.
The decisions, driven by the pivotal work of NGOs, recognised that each key population, including transgender people, is diverse and experiences multiple and intersecting forms of stigma and discrimination.
Therefore, a meaningful HIV response requires tailored, evidence-based, data-informed programs, services, and resources that respond to their specific needs.
The decisions also called on States and the joint programme to address gaps in HIV responses when it comes to transgender persons.
2024: ensuring inclusive language in the HIV resolution
In 2024, ILGA World worked closely with partners on the HIV resolution at the Human Rights Council.
The resolution, presented by Brazil, Colombia, Portugal, and Thailand, reaffirmed that combination HIV prevention, testing (including self-testing), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and access to sexual and reproductive health services are essential to achieving the right to health.
The resolution also drew strong attention to the stigma, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, violence, and abuse faced by key populations and all persons living with, presumed to be living with, or affected by HIV.
It urged States to repeal and reform restrictive, punitive, and discriminatory legal and policy frameworks that adversely affect these populations.
For the first time, the resolution explicitly included the term “sexual and reproductive health and rights” in its tabled version at the Human Rights Council, marking a historic moment in globally negotiated documents despite increasing challenges to sexual and reproductive rights.
The Russian Federation targeted the resolution with hostile amendments, seeking to redefine key populations according to national interests and delete references to gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights. However, all the hostile amendments were defeated, and the Human Rights Council upheld the long-standing tradition of adopting this resolution by consensus.
By contributing to the work of a coalition of civil society organisations working on sexual and reproductive health rights, HIV/AIDS and other topics to provide guidance and support to member States, ILGA World ensured that the resolution had important language and was adopted by consensus.
Looking forward
As financial and political challenges continue to threaten the HIV response and the rights of key populations, ILGA World remains committed to advocating for inclusive, evidence-based, and human rights-centred policies, programmes and legislation.
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Through strategic engagement at the Human Rights Council, World Health Assembly, and UNAIDS, we will continue to push for the removal of discriminatory barriers and ensure that all individuals, regardless of their identity or circumstances, have access to life-saving HIV prevention and treatment services.
ILGA World will continue to build alliances between and bring together community-led organisations and other civil society partners working on HIV/AIDS, including those that are not based in Geneva, and ensuring that our collaborative efforts influence decision making processes in United Nations spaces.
Join us in continuing this crucial work. Stay informed, support community-led initiatives, and advocate for inclusive global health policies.
Check out these resources on HIV and human rights
- UNAIDS, Human rights
- International Labour Organization, HIV/AIDS and the world of work
- The Global Fund, Human rights
- Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, HIV/AIDS and human rights