As the 2020 World AIDS Day campaign focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and how pandemics affect lives and livelihoods (read report), we adapted, with permission, the UNAIDS campaign into Arabic, English, and French, and we ran it online over six day. We highlighted notions pertaining to testing, access to treatment, access to healthcare, decriminalization of LGBT status, sex work, use of condoms, sexual consent, and drug injection.
The 2020 theme “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility” reflects on how health is interlinked with other critical issues, such as reducing inequality, human rights, gender equality, social protection, and economic growth. Eliminating stigma and discrimination, putting people at the centre of our responses, and grounding our approaches in human rights and gender sensitivity, are key to ending the colliding pandemics of HIV and COVID-19. In many respects, the defeat of AIDS as a public health threat depends on how the world responds to COVID-19. The leadership and engagement of communities, instrumental in the success of the AIDS response, has also been key in responding to COVID-19. However, such solidarity cannot be the sole responsibility of communities: governments, donors, faith leaders, civil society and each and every one of us need to contribute to making the world a healthier place.
“Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility” requires the world to come together to ensure that:
Health is fully financed.
Governments work together, and ensure that healthcare is fully funded, for no one country can succeed alone. Domestic and international funding for health must be increased.
Health systems are strengthened.
Investments in the AIDS response in the past few decades have helped strengthen health systems, and support the COVID-19 response. More needs to be done to further strengthen health systems, and to protect health-care workers.
Access is ensured.
Life-saving medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics, must be considered public goods. No individual, community, or country, should struggle to access life-saving health commodities.
Human rights are respected.
A human rights approach produces sustainable health results. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fault lines in society, and how key populations have been left behind.
Gender equality is enshrined.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected women’s livelihoods, which have been disproportionally affected by lockdown measures, and by the increase of household violence. Self-determination means women are included in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
UNAIDS Videos
Disclaimer: While reasonable precautions have been taken to verify the above-mentioned information, the responsibility for its interpretation and for its use lies with the reader. In no event shall WHO, UNAIDS and Beirut Pride be liable for any problem arising from its use.