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UNAids Report Highlights Funding Cuts and Rights Restrictions Threatening HIV Progress

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UNAids Report Warns of HIV Resurgence Amid Funding Cuts and Repressive Laws

"The funding cuts represent the most serious disruption to the global HIV response since the effort began."
— Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAids

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAids) has released a report indicating that a sharp decline in international funding, coupled with an increase in repressive laws, may lead to a resurgence of the HIV epidemic. The report details a 23% reduction in global development assistance in 2025, the largest single-year drop on record, which has resulted in significant disruptions to testing, prevention, and community-led services worldwide.

Key Findings

  • Mortality and New Infections: In 2024, an estimated 570,000 AIDS-related deaths and 1.2 million new HIV infections occurred globally.
  • Funding Impact: Aid spending fell by approximately 23%, leading to a 22% decline in HIV testing in high-burden countries between 2024 and 2025. Funding for condom distribution was cut by over 90% in some instances.
  • Prevention Services: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake fell by 38% between 2024 and 2025 across 62 reporting countries. Prevention spending accounted for only 11% of total HIV expenditure in 2024, and this investment is decreasing.
  • Domestic Funding: New domestic funding has not compensated for the international losses and is primarily directed toward treatment rather than prevention.
  • Criminalization and Rights: For the first time since UNAids began tracking, the number of countries with new or stricter laws against same-sex relations has increased. In 2025, two additional countries introduced criminalization related to same-sex sexual activity, and one country increased penalties in 2026. The report notes that such laws may deter at-risk populations from seeking services.

Community Impact

A survey of 79 community-led organizations across 47 countries found devastating reductions in essential services:

  • A 50% reduction in community support services for people living with HIV.
  • An 82% reduction in services for sex workers.
  • An 85% reduction in services for men who have sex with men.

"Prevention funding is disappearing, and new restrictive laws, such as Uganda's sovereignty bill, undermine civic space and service delivery."
— Winnie Byanyima

Progress and Fragility

Historical Progress:

  • AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 56% — from 1.3 million in 2010 to 570,000 in 2025.
  • New infections have decreased by 43% since 2010 to 1.2 million.

Treatment Coverage:

  • Currently, 78% of the 40.9 million people living with HIV are receiving treatment.
  • However, nearly 9 million people living with HIV are not on treatment.

Regional Trends:

  • Infections are reported to be rising in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America.

Context and Looking Ahead

The report was released ahead of the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS scheduled for 22–23 June. The meeting is expected to adopt a new political declaration with targets for 2030, including reaching 40 million people with antiretroviral treatment and ensuring 20 million have access to HIV prevention medicine, free of stigma and discrimination.

UNAids itself has been affected by funding cuts from the Trump administration. The UN Secretary-General has proposed closing the agency by the end of 2025. Ms. Byanyima indicated that a working group will present proposals in October, foreseeing a smaller, more dispersed joint programme.