Taking the Rights Path։ World AIDS Day 2024

November 30, 2024

World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1st, is a global movement to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about HIV and AIDS, commemorating those who have died from the disease, and celebrating the progress made in the fight against it.

Established in 1988, World AIDS Day has become a critical moment for the international community to come together, reflect on the ongoing challenges in HIV prevention and treatment, and advocate for policies and practices that prioritize human dignity and equality.

Every year New Generation Humanitarian NGO (NGNGO) marks the day with various events, meeting-discussions, campaigns and other activities.

WAD-2024 events of NGNGO included the annual awareness raising photo-campaign and meeting discussion with participation of representatives of Armenian state agencies, diplomatic missions in Armenia, local and international organizations, medical institutions, key populations and other stakeholders.

This year’s event was honored by the presence of distinguished guests, including Françoise Jacob, the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, H.E.M. Lukas Rosenkranz, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Armenia, H.E.M. Andrew Turner, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Armenia,David Allen, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, Siddhartha Sankar Datta, WHO Representative and Head of Country Office, Armenia, Roza Babayan, UNAIDS Armenia Country Director, representatives of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria Program Coordination Team, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, Spartak Petrosyan, the Acting Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, as well as representatives from the Embassy of France, U.S. Embassy, Embassy of Switzerland, WHO country office in Armenia, Country Coordinating Mechanism against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNHCR, RA Human Rights Defender’s Office (Ombudsman), Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Doctors of the World (MDM), Armenian Red Cross Society, National Pulmonology Center, National Center for Addictions Treatment, National Center for Burns and Dermatology and other governmental, diplomatic, international organizations, key populations, healthcare institutions and other stakeholder bodies.

The meeting provided a platform to reflect on Armenia’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, discuss ongoing challenges, and explore the way forward. The meeting was launched by NGNGO president Sergey Gabrielyan and welcoming speeches of

Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia
Paul MORRIS, Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy, Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia
David ALLEN, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia
Siddhartha SANKAR DATTA, WHO Representative and Head of Country Office, Armenia
Roza BABAYAN, UNAIDS Armenia Country Director

The welcoming remarks were summed up by the video-message from Eamonn MURPHY, UNAIDS Director, Regional Support Teams for Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The event featured a series of presentations offering an overview of the current HIV epidemic in Armenia. Highlights included:

Updates on the state of HIV prevention and treatment in Armenia, with a focus on the key populations most affected by the epidemic.

Achievements in HIV prevention, care, and treatment from 2021 to 2024, including successful programs aimed at increasing access to care for marginalized groups.

A candid discussion of existing gaps, challenges, and areas that require continued attention, including efforts to combat stigma and discrimination and expand access to life-saving services.

Keynote Presentations included:

State HIV and AIDS Prevention Program 2021-2024 of the Republic of Armenia: Conducted Work, Gaps and Challenges presented by Naira Sergeeva, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Program Coordination Team Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia

HIV and AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment Activities Carried out in 2021-2024, Indicators, Achievements, Gaps and Challenges presented by Vardan Arzakanyan, Head of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Consultation Department of the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of Armenia

With a focus on human rights, equity, and access to care, participants engaged in rich discussions about the state of HIV prevention, treatment, and care in Armenia, emphasizing the critical role of human rights in ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their background or HIV status, can access the services they need.

The questions and discussion section of the event provided a space to reflect on the successes achieved in Armenia’s HIV response, such as the successful implementation of prevention, harm reduction programs and access to HIV services for key populations. However, challenges remain, particularly in ensuring consistent healthcare access for marginalized groups.

It was also emphasized that the Global Fund’s funding for HIV response for the 2025–2027 period will most likely represent the final transition phase. However, significant gaps and challenges remain, compounded by the substantial influx of migrants and refugees into Armenia, which has further increased the demand for HIV services. Under these circumstances, following the conclusion of the Global Fund’s financial support, Armenia may face serious challenges, particularly in ensuring HIV prevention services for vulnerable groups.

The discussions underscored the need for continued advocacy, the expansion of prevention programs, and the strengthening of legal protections and capacity building for key populations.

World AIDS Day 2024 event held by NGNGO in cooperation with UNAIDS and NCID, as well as all stakeholders attending it, was a significant occasion to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead in the fight against HIV. The event reaffirmed the commitment of all participants to take the RIGHTS PATH, ensuring that HIV prevention, care, and treatment are available to everyone—regardless of their background or HIV status. By continuing to focus on human rights, inclusivity, and collaboration, we move closer to achieving the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all participants and supporters of this year’s event and campaign. The collective effort and solidarity shown at this year’s World AIDS Day were a clear reminder that, together, we can create a more equitable and supportive environment for those affected by HIV.

Apart from meeting-discussion, the event also included awareness and visibility raising visuals dedicated to the day, e.g. posters with photo-messages from various stakeholders, diplomatic missions, international and local organizations, showcased at the event and banners, flyers and posters with the slogans and symbols of WAD-2024, to which the guests showed their solidarity by taking pictures with the visuals.