Last updated on: 23 June 2026
A crucial moment in the fight against AIDS: world leaders are gathering in New York on Monday and Tuesday for the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS. Aidsfonds is present to increase pressure on governments. It is essential that governments commit to an inclusive HIV response with adequate funding. This UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS takes place only once every five years and is the key moment when countries agree on new commitments in a political declaration. This document sets the direction for the global HIV response for the next five years.
Julia Lukomnik is attending the summit on behalf of Aidsfonds. “If we’re not there now, we’ll lose the progress we fought so hard for five years ago,” she explains.
This is our very last chance to set a powerful gobal AIDS response agenda with UNAIDS at the helm
~Julia Lukomnik, Aidsfonds.
A changing political climate
In 2021, we succeeded in securing commitments in the declaration for the hardest-hit groups, such as LGBTQ+ people and sex workers, and in recognizing gender inequality within it.
“Back then, the world looked different. The anti-rights movement wasn’t as strong as it is now, and more funding was available for the HIV response. Now we’ll have to do everything in our power to secure a comparable commitment from countries.
In recent months, Aidsfonds has therefore worked intensively with nearly 200 civil society organisations and advocacy groups to jointly determine priorities. One of the key aims is to ensure that the declaration addresses barriers faced by heavily affected groups, such as women and LGBTQ+ people.
Vital importance
But what is the practical value of such a UN declaration? “Some governments place tremendous value on it and directly align their national policies with it,” Julia explains. “But even in countries where the government is less cooperative, this document is of vital importance. Local activists can use the declaration as a political tool to hold their own governments accountable. That’s why this summit is so incredibly important.”
The very last chance
The urgency is even greater this year due to a major change: UNAIDS, the UN body that coordinates the global fight against AIDS, will cease to exist in its current form. Its responsibilities will be distributed among various UN agencies, but central coordination will disappear.
“This is truly our very last chance to set a strong global agenda together, with UNAIDS at the helm,” Julia emphasises.
