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.

Keiskamma Guernica

Fifty South African women recreate Pablo Picasso’s Guernica to highlight the devastating effect of the AIDS epidemic on their community.

Quote from Pope Benedict XVI

“A tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems.”
The AIDS epidemic as described by Pope Benedict XVI on his first visit to Africa

USA lifts travel ban

US President Barack Obama announces the end of a 22-year travel and immigration ban on people living with HIV.

Circumcision

A study finds definitive evidence that male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection in men.

Quote from Melinda Gates

“In the fight against AIDS, condoms save lives. If you oppose the distribution of condoms, something is more important to you than saving lives.”
Melinda Gates at International AIDS Conference in Toronto

Abstinence-only programmes

“Abstinence-only programmes don't work. Ideological rigidity almost never works when applied to the human condition. Moreover, it's an antiquated throwback to the conditionality of yesteryear to tell any government how to allocate its money for prevention. That approach has a name: it's called neo-colonialism.”
- Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for HIV in Africa

Toronto AIDS Conference

The Toronto AIDS conference witnesses a vocal backlash against the abstinence approach to HIV prevention.

HIV origins

Scientists pinpoint the origin of HIV to chimpanzees living in southern Cameroon.

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