Contribution to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

Decline of new HIV infections: New HIV infections have been reduced by 47% since the peak in 1996. However, in recent years the downward trend is stagnating at around 1.8 million new infections each year whereby women, girls and key populations are particularly at risk.

Increased access to testing and treatment: AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by more than 51% since the peak in 2004. For the first time, over half of the estimated 37 million people living with HIV globally access Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART). However, 25% of people living with HIV globally still do not know their HIV-positive status and thus don’t access treatment.

Steady but slow reduction in stigma, discrimination and inequalities: HIV prevention, treatment and care services are more widely available now than a decade ago. But stigma and discrimination continue to be considerable barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Active contribution, as Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) vice-chair (2015) and as member state, to the successful adoption of the UNAIDS Strategy 2016-21; as chair of the PCB Switzerland successfully facilitated the PCB decision making process in 2016;

As co-facilitator of the High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, Switzerland contributed considerably to the adoption of the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS (June 2016).

Proactive sharing of Switzerland’s’ comprehensive approach to harm reduction that has led to significant decrease of HIV among Injecting Drug Users.

Contribution to increased participation of young people in policy discussions on sexual and reproductive health and rights through support of the UNAIDS/IPPF led ACT!2030 Initiative.

As per the target 3.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda 2030, UNAIDS aims at ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. The progress that will be made in the coming years will considerably determine the impact in the subsequent ten years through 2030.

As per the UNAIDS Strategy 2016-21 “On the Fast Track to end AIDS”, UNAIDS will intensify efforts and aspires by 2020:

1. Fewer than 500 000 new HIV infections per year;
2. Fewer than 500’000 AIDS- related deaths per year;
3. Elimination of HIV-related Discrimination.

Expected benefits of fast-tracking the HIV/AIDS response in low- and middle-income countries include 28 million HIV infections averted between 2015 and 2030; 21 million AIDS-related deaths averted between 2015 and 2030; 15 times economic return on fast-tracked investment; S$ 24 billion of additional costs for HIV treatment averted.

Focus on prevention: Young people, especially young women and adolescent girls, access combination prevention services and are empowered to protect themselves from HIV.

Strong health systems for Universal Health Coverage: People-centered HIV and health services are integrated in the context of stronger systems for health.

Address stigma and discrimination: Punitive laws, policies, practices, stigma and discrimination that block effective responses to HIV are removed

UNAIDS organisational development advanced, including Strengthened prevention and response to harassment incl. sexual harassment, bullying and power abuse.

6th rank (2017)

US, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, UK, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Ireland, Germany, France, Japan, New Zealand, Belgium, China.

In the PCB, UNAIDS’ governing body, Switzerland belongs to a constituency with Sweden, Austria and Iceland. In 2017-19, Sweden will lead the constituency and Switzerland will act as an observer. 2020-22 Switzerland will again lead the constituency.

Fase 16 01.01.2019 - 31.12.2021   (Completed)