Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem

On World AIDS Day, 1 December 2020

On World AIDS Day, as we unite in support of people living with and affected by HIV, let us remember all those who have lost their lives to AIDS, and those who mourn them.

As the world combats another virus, COVID-19, it must not forget HIV.

ISTANBUL, Turkey — “They gave me your address and said that maybe you can help me. I’m stuck in New York and cannot get my antiretroviral therapy.”

UNITED NATIONS, New York – Marginalized groups with high vulnerability to HIV infection – commonly known as “key populations” – face significantly increased risks during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say.

Living outside of her country during the COVID-19 pandemic, Aina* was afraid to seek medical care when her health began to deteriorate.

The Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS, with support from UNFPA's Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has launched a dedicated hotline to help people living with HIV and key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia who have difficulties receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and reproductive health and gender-based violence counselling and services due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated quarantines, border closures, lockdowns and disruptions i

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Natali Kopaliani thought that her trip to Istanbul would be a short one. She had travelled from her home in Georgia to neighbouring Turkey on an urgent family matter, and had brought her mother along to see a specialist doctor.

Then the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic. Turkey, like many other countries, started closing its borders. Kopaliani was stranded, along with her mother and her grandson.

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — As a transgender sex worker, Lila Milic has endured more than her share of mistreatment. Yet she does not feel safe seeking care and protection in the one place that should be a safe haven for all – the health facility.

“One time, when I was 24 years old, I was returning home when three clients intercepted me,” Ms. Milic recently recounted to UNFPA in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.“They pushed me violently in their car and abused me, both mentally and sexually.”

She was too afraid to report her attackers to the police. 

KYIV, Ukraine — Dany Stolbunov, now 20, admired and trusted his doctor in Ukraine enough to confide in him that he wanted to go to medical school. He hoped for affirmation of his dreams. Instead, he met rejection. “You can’t be a doctor,” his doctor said. “You have HIV.”

Istanbul, 20 May 2024 — UNFPA and amma.pregnancy tracker, a popular application for pregnant women and their families, agreed to extend their successful partnership bringing quality reproductive health information to the app’s users. 

The amma.pregnancy tracker provides over 800 educational articles on reproductive health, pregnancy and the baby care period. The heart of the application is its content, meticulously created by an international team of experts, including medical doctors and psychologists.