World AIDS Day: Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice (December 1, 2021)

Commemorating World AIDS Day 2021

World AIDS Day on December 1st will mark 40 years since the first five cases of what later became known as AIDS were officially reported. Pacific AETC honors the more than 36 million people who have died from AIDS-related illness globally. We strengthen our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and continue to work towards providing high-quality, equitable, and accessible HIV-related services in the Pacific region.

The theme for the 2021 observance is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.” Watch Harold Phillips, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, speak about this year’s theme and the importance of focusing on regions and communities with health disparities. He provides an overview of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to promote equity, which includes implementing programs that reflect the voices of those with lived HIV experience and ensuring that no part of the country gets left behind.

The Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026: End Inequalities, End AIDS and the Political Declaration on AIDS adopted at the 2021 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS have ending inequalities at their core. Read about UNAIDS call to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world.

Register for HRSA’S 2021 World AIDS Day Virtual Event on Wednesday, December 1st, 11am-12pm EST or 8am -9am PST. The event will highlight stories from people with lived experience through storytelling and artistic expression.

History of World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988. Each year, organizations and individuals come together to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak out against HIV stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward Ending the HIV epidemic. View the timeline of HIV and AIDS with HIV.gov’s interactive resource.

What is Ending the HIV Epidemic?

The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) is a plan to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030. It leverages scientific advances in HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak response by coordinating the programs, resources, and infrastructure of many U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies and offices. The initiative seeks to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the U.S. by 75 percent by 2025, and then by at least 90 percent by 2030, for a total of 250,000 averted HIV infections.

World AIDS Day Updates

Up through the US Conference on HIV/AIDS (December 2nd and 3rd), follow the HIV.gov blog for updates on federal activities honoring World AIDS Day.