The Netherlands must continue leading the global HIV response by supporting UNAIDS and community leadership

Last updated on: 29 September 2025

The AIDS epidemic is not over. With recent cuts to global development spending for the HIV response, there are already signs that HIV rates and AIDS deaths are increasing. In the next four years, UNAIDS has warned that an additional 4.2 million people are expected to die of AIDS related illnesses, leaving an extra 3 million children orphaned, and an additional 6.6 million people with new HIV infections.(1)

A strong HIV response has historically been a Dutch priority and remains one today. This is evidenced by the Dutch Global Health Strategy and through the creation of an HIV Instrument to support civil society between 2026 – 2030.

Short term leadership

The world cannot end AIDS as a public health thready by 2030 if UNAIDS sunsets in 2026. The Dutch government must continue to show decisive leadership in the HIV response. In the short term, The Netherlands should:

• Outspokenly reject the UN80 Initiative proposal to sunset UNAIDS by 2026;
• Continue to support the operating model and transition plan proposed by UNAIDS and approved by the UNAIDS board in June 2025;(2)
• Build a coalition of UNAIDS Program Committee Board Members to reject the UN80 Initiative proposal and support the UNAIDS operating model and transition plan.

Medium term leadership

UNAIDS ensures that HIV/AIDS remains a global priority and is a key partner in delivering global health. It is the only UN body whose governance structure involves communities in the decisions that impact their lives. UNAIDS success in combating the AIDS epidemic is partially due to this co-decision-making structure. UNAIDS and other Global Health Institutions are restructuring to meet the needs of our times.  The Netherlands has an important role here also. In the medium term, The Netherlands should:

• Outspokenly support integrating community and key population(3) representation in the governance structure of other UN bodies such as UNDP, UNFPA, the WHO, and others.
• Ensure community and key populations are represented in the deliberations and decisions on how to – sustainably and responsibly – integrate UNAIDS functions across other UN bodies, when UNAIDS mandate comes to an end in 2030.

Furthering Dutch foreign policy

UNAIDS has a strong track record of strengthening access to medication, health data systems, and community leadership. Its coordination of the HIV response, global target setting, and civil society strengthening provide the groundwork on top of which Dutch support for community-led HIV responses can be effective. Additionally, UNAIDS furthers Dutch foreign policy objectives by:

• Ensuring the human rights of LGBT people and other marginalized groups are upheld in health policy and other policy which impacts health. No other UN body has a similar focus on human rights.(4)
• Enabling countries to responsibility reduce aid-dependence and increase domestic resourcing of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment via the Sustainability Road Maps process; and
• Demonstrating the imperative to protect women and girls as an essential part of the HIV response. UNAIDS provides clear data on the impact of gender inequality on the HIV epidemic, as well as technical assistance to countries to address this.

Sunsetting UNAIDS in 2026 would have overwhelmingly negative consequences for the world’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 on health and SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. It would reduce the effectiveness of Dutch foreign assistance. And it would endanger the lives and wellbeing of millions.

The Netherlands is a leader in combatting HIV and AIDS, at home and abroad. Once more, The Netherlands can pave the way to ending AIDS as a public health threat by showing leadership and supporting UNAIDS to have a responsible transition.

 

 

1 About the impact of US funding cuts on the global HIV response | UNAIDS 
2 These changes align with the need to reduce cost. They include a 55% reduction in UNAIDS staff in 2026, and plans to further transform, consolidate and integrate with a view to eventually closing down the UNAIDS Secretariat in its current form.
3 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS – Consolidated Guidelines on HIV Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Care for Key Populations – 2016 Update – NCBI Bookshelf 
4 The WHO, for instance, can set clinical guidelines, but it cannot lead, coordinate, or sustain a global HIV response that tackles gender inequality, stigma, and human rights.