The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day, a moment of reflection, solidarity, and renewed commitment to the protection of the rights and dignity of people living with HIV and AIDS across Africa. This day is not only a time to remember the countless lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses but also to celebrate the resilience, courage, and leadership of individuals and communities who continue to shape the response to HIV with strength and determination.
As we mark this important day, it is crucial to acknowledge the current landscape of HIV in Africa. According to the latest WHO/UNAIDS statistics, the African Region remains the most affected globally, with an estimated 26.3 million people living with HIV in 2024. Despite the scale of the epidemic, the region has made significant progress: 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 83% are receiving treatment, and 78% have suppressed viral loads. These improvements reflect years of advocacy, investment, and the relentless resilience of affected communities. Still, they also highlight the need to reach the millions who remain underserved or left behind.
In 2024, the continent recorded 650,000 new HIV infections, a dramatic reduction from 2010, when new infections stood at approximately 1.5 million. This progress demonstrates the impact of prevention efforts but also signals the continued vulnerability of young women, adolescents, and marginalized populations. In the same year, Africa experienced 380,000 HIV-related deaths, marking a 59% decline since 2010 but still representing more than half of global AIDS-related mortality. These sobering figures remind us of the urgent need to expand treatment access, strengthen health systems, and eliminate stigma.
For the ACDHRS, the struggle against HIV and AIDS has always been rooted in advancing and protecting human rights. Public health cannot be meaningfully separated from justice, equality, and the freedom of every person to live without discrimination. Over the years, the Centre has ensured that people living with HIV and AIDS are placed at the centre of policy dialogues, human rights discussions, and capacity-building initiatives. Their meaningful involvement in our training programmes and advocacy spaces reflects our unwavering belief that lived experiences must guide national and regional responses.
Through our engagements, we have witnessed the transformative impact of inclusive participation. When people living with HIV are empowered to speak for themselves, take part in decision-making, and assume leadership roles within civil society, HIV interventions become more impactful and more aligned with community realities. Their leadership challenges stereotypes, dismantles stigma, and pushes society toward greater acceptance and justice. ACDHRS remains committed to maintaining these inclusive spaces and ensuring that our programmes continue to reflect diversity, respect, and equal opportunity.
As we observe World AIDS Day 2025, we reaffirm our dedication to promoting non-discrimination and ensuring equal access to healthcare, education, and social services for all persons living with HIV and AIDS. Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to ending AIDS, and addressing it requires bold and coordinated action, from governments, institutions, communities, and individuals. The Centre will continue to build capacities, raise awareness, and strengthen rights-based advocacy across Africa to ensure that no one is excluded from essential services.
Today, we honour the advocates, human rights defenders, healthcare workers, and community leaders who remain on the frontlines of the HIV response. We recognise their sacrifices, resilience, and deep commitment to improving lives. Most importantly, we honour the strength of persons living with HIV and AIDS, whose courage inspires our work and reinforces our resolve to push for stronger accountability and protection mechanisms across the continent.
On this World AIDS Day, ACDHRS calls on governments, civil society, and all partners to renew their commitment to safeguarding human rights within the HIV response. Let us remain united in ensuring that no one is left behind, no voice is silenced, and no life is devalued.
We stand together today and every day, in solidarity, in compassion, and in the unwavering belief that the realisation of human rights for all is essential to achieving a future free from AIDS.
