2006-2012: Reflection
Roughly 25 years into the HIV epidemic, and ten years on from the creation of UNAIDS, this was a period to take stock of achievements and continue pushing for improvement. The 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals helped to focus the world’s efforts on tackling HIV.
This brought achievements - the number of AIDS-related deaths fell for the first time in the epidemic’s relatively short history. However, gaping holes remained. Years of emphasis on treatment meant prevention had taken a back seat, with the number of new infections hardly falling.
Globally, it was becoming clear that many of the most marginalised people were being left behind and that social, economic and rights-based initiatives, alongside medical programmes, would be key to curbing HIV in the future.