With an unacceptably high rate of new HIV infections, especially in vulnerable and marginalized populations, and an HIV treatment gap of over 9 million people, an enabling legal and policy environment that respects human rights is more critical than ever to achieving an effective and sustainable HIV response.
As we assess the takeaways from the 25th International AIDS Conference, UNDP is amplifying the work being led by people living with HIV and other key populations to remove legal and policy barriers to HIV and health services and drive progress on the 10-10-10 targets agreed by Member States in 2021. Science continues to deliver an impressive array of tools. Sustaining the HIV response to and beyond 2030 requires enabling legal and policy environments, where rights- and evidence-based laws and policies prevail, to safeguard progress and ensure services reach those who need it most.
Below are just some of the powerful examples from more than 40 grantee organizations across 21 countries that the UNDP-led SCALE Initiative is supporting to remove structural barriers standing in the way of progress. Continuing to invest in and strengthen work led by and for people living with HIV and other key populations is critical to driving this progress, including on the 10-10-10 HIV targets for ending the criminalization, discrimination and gender-based violence which continue to fuel new HIV infections and impede access to treatment, care and support.
In Eswatini, the LGBTIQ+ community faces significant legal and social challenges which impede access to HIV services. Princie Hlophe, a transgender woman, endured a brutal attack motivated by her gender identity. Fear of discrimination often keeps individuals like Princie from seeking justice.
“My ID says I’m male, yet I present as a female and I fear that I’d have to explain this to the police who may not be in a position to understand and either send me away or, worse, put me behind bars,” said Princie.
However, with support from The Rock of Hope, Princie was able to report the crime and receive the support she needed. The Rock of Hope has established paralegal services and trained police officers to better understand and support key populations. HealthPlus 4 Men, meanwhile, has established support groups in the four regions of the country through its grant project to ensure key populations have access to psychosocial support and easily access antiretroviral therapy (ART). These are part of vital efforts to break down barriers to justice and HIV and health services for the LGBTIQ+ community and other key populations in Eswatini.
SCALE supports three initiatives in the Philippines. TLF SHARE Collective’s “Bida ang Barangay” educates barangay – small local level district – officials and youth on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and HIV. Kim, an emerging community leader, and Zania, who now embraces her identity, are testaments to the project’s impact. Their efforts have led to the endorsement of a proposed HIV ordinance, making Sumilao a beacon against discrimination.
The Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) is implementing digital-driven interventions to provide practical knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV prevention.
“The resulting efforts are manifesting not just in the barangay, but also in the city level. We were able to establish the Bahaghari (rainbow) Council. It includes different government agencies and offices, such as gender and development and city health, encompassing all sectors,” said Jonas, the Sangguniang Kabataan (community youth council) President of barangay Buli.
In Mandaue, Cebu, the Cebu United Rainbow LGBT Sector (CURLS) works to enforce anti-stigma and discrimination policies. The much-anticipated implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance’s rules will expand livelihood opportunities for the LGBTIQ+ community, ensuring inclusive growth.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP is supporting key population-led organizations to advocate for legal environments that respect their rights and dignity. Jamaica-based Equality For All Foundation is bringing communities together to discuss how LGBTIQ+ populations’ rights should be reflected in the country’s national constitutional reform. In Guatemala, CAS and Lambda are working with communities around the country to draft a national LGBTIQ+ policy. The Legal Network on HIV, under the coordination of the sex workers organization OMES, is leading the process to reform Guatemala’s HIV law and to draft a report on the rights of people living with HIV and other key populations.
In Panama, Fundación Iguales supports smaller transgender community organizations by assisting with legal registration and challenging discriminatory insurance-related laws. Guyana Trans United (GTU) and Proud To Be Trans are collaborating in Guyana to build knowledge and capacities on the human rights of transgender persons, with GTU drafting a policy brief for parliamentarians.
More than 15 years ago, Elena Rastokina learned that she was HIV-positive. Now open about her status and a mother of two, she is the founder of "Answer" foundation, advocating for women’s access to social services in Kazakhstan.
From improving legal and financial literacy to support with housing and overcoming stigma and discrimination, "Answer" provides comprehensive services to women living with HIV while working to remove legal barriers blocking access. Elena’s work highlights the urgent need to dismantle prejudices and structural barriers to ensure that women living with HIV can access the services and support they need to live with dignity and hope.
In India, the transgender community faces unique challenges related to identity and access to services. Baha Homsla, a transgender woman from Bihar, shares her journey of overcoming fear and stigma. Community organization DOSTANASAFAR is helping transgender individuals obtain valid identity cards, enabling them to access essential government services.
This includes enrolling trans persons in the National Portal for Transgender Persons, facilitating the issuance of Transgender Identity Cards. This not only facilitates access to healthcare and other services, but it also strengthens a sense of identity and belonging. For many, the trans ID card with their name represents a new lease on life, offering respect and equality.
The struggle for human rights and legal reform is a daily reality for many in Angola. Damiana Caculo’s experience with the impacts of the HIV transmission law underscores the urgent need for legal and social reform.
Human Action Association amplifies the voices of people living with HIV and advocates for the removal of punitive laws that impede access to services and undermine dignity. Alongside IRIS Association and Angolan Identity Archive, these organizations are promoting the rights of LGBTIQ+ communities and sex workers, working to dismantle stigma and discrimination and improve access to HIV and other services.
These stories highlight the struggles faced by people living with HIV and other key populations in far too many countries. They also underscore the vital role that organizations led by and for these very communities play in dismantling the structural and societal barriers which impede access to treatment and prevention and progress on global goals and targets and the commitment to leave no one behind. Putting resources into the hands of communities, especially at the local level, can help to move mountains.
Their stories of courage, leadership and resilience are a testament to the transformative impact of efforts led by people living with HIV and other key populations and the importance of expanding solidarity and support for these. UNDP looks forward to amplifying their voices and working hand-in-hand with them to scale up this work at AIDS 2024 and beyond.
© 2026 United Nations Development Programme
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