On December 1st, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) will join with communities and partners to observe World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is “Let communities lead”.
Communities living with and affected by HIV, as well as networks of people from key populations and youth leaders, have been essential in driving progress in the HIV response. They provide crucial prevention, testing, and treatment support services, build trust, generate innovative solutions, and hold providers accountable.
The world has the potential to end AIDS with communities taking the lead. That is why the theme for World AIDS Day 2023 is ‘Let communities lead’. It is not just a celebration of community achievements, but also a call to action to empower and support communities in their leadership roles.
On World AIDS Day 2023, WHO will celebrate and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of communities in leading the response to HIV.
World AIDS Day 2023 in Geneva |
10:00–11:00 | Commemoration event: Celebrating the power of communities leading the response to HIV
Red Ribbon Café, UNAIDS (WHO D building)
- Opening and candlelight ceremony
- World AIDS Day message: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
- Public Health Milestones on HIV & AIDS in the context of the WHO 75th Anniversary: Dr Jérôme Salomon, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases
- Presentation of the WAD2023 video: “Communities leading the HIV response”
- Voice of communities: of community representatives
14:30–16:00 | Visit to Checkpoint Genève: a community-led initiative enabling key populations to access HIV services
Field visit to community-led service by Dr Jérôme Salomon (this event is not open to the public).
Victoria Falls and Harare, Zimbabwe
1 December and beyond
On World AIDS Day 2023, the WHO Regional Office for Africa will join Winnie Byanyima, the UNAIDS Executive Director, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as well as government officials and leaders of the HIV response in Zimbabwe to commemorate the lives lost to AIDS. In the afternoon, they will visit a community-led initiative enabling key populations to access services.
Activities for World AIDS Day in Zimbabwe will be followed by ICASA, the 22nd edition of the largest HIV conference in Africa, from 4 – 9 December in Harare. WHO will play a leading role in the conference, including participation in the opening ceremony, convening 10 satellite sessions, and engaging with communities and people living with or affected by HIV attending the conference.
