UNAIDS calls for strengthened partnerships to leave no one behind

HA NOI, 17 May 2018—On the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), UNAIDS is calling for strengthened partnerships to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and their families being affected by HIV and facing discrimination.

“Stigma, discrimination and social and physical violence against sexual and gender minorities prevent them from accessing health services,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Everyone has the right to health, no matter their gender or sexual orientation. For that, we need zero discrimination for everyone, everywhere.”

Gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender women are among the populations most affected by HIV worldwide.

More than 40% of countries criminalize same-sex sexual relationships. Criminalizing people because of their gender identity or sexual orientation drives people underground and out of reach of essential health and social services, making them vulnerable to poor health and homelessness.

To end AIDS, it is essential to ensure that people can access HIV prevention technologies, including condoms and PrEP, and quality HIV treatment and care free from discrimination. UN Women, the United Nations Development Programme and UNAIDS are working with the Global Network of People Living with HIV to end all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The initiative will require rapid multisectoral support and civil society leadership and will contribute to achieving the time-bound commitments of United Nations Member States to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Increasing political commitment and investments for the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in society will help to ensure that no one is left behind.

KEY FACTS

Globally, gay men and other men who have sex with men are 24 times more likely to acquire HIV and transgender people are 49 times more likely to acquire HIV than all adults of reproductive age.
More than 40% of countries criminalize same-sex sexual relationships.
In Viet Nam, there is recent evidence of a very worrying expansion of the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (increase of HIV prevalence from 4% in 2013 to 8.2% in 2016) and high-level HIV prevalence among transgender women.
The 2014 Viet Nam’s Law on Family and Marriage removed the ban on same sex marriage. The 2015 Civil Code provides a legal basis to change a person’s legal gender identity.

IDAHOT, a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversity, is commemorated annually on 17 May. This year’s theme is alliances for solidarity to bring respect for LGBTI people and their families.