World AIDS Day 2021

Each year on December 1st, we commemorate World AIDS Day and reflect on the continuing global AIDS response, which is especially poignant this year as we mark 40 years since the first reported cases of what would later become known as AIDS. We honor and remember the 36.3 million people who have died of AIDS-related illness worldwide and renew our commitment to the 37.7 million people living with HIV globally.

The U.S. Government’s theme for World AIDS Day 2021 is Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice, which highlights the strong, bipartisan U.S. commitment across Administrations and from the Congress to ending the HIV epidemic globally by addressing health inequities and elevating the voices of people living with and affected by HIV.

Since 2003, PEPFAR has saved more than 21 million lives, prevented millions of HIV infections, and supported at least 20 countries to achieve epidemic control of HIV or reach their ambitious 90-90-90 HIV treatment targets. PEPFAR has also proven remarkably resilient in protecting and advancing hard-fought HIV gains as well as creating the backbone to fight other health threats, including COVID-19, particularly in Africa – contributing to greater global health security and pandemic preparedness.

PEPFAR World AIDS Day 2021 Resources

• White House Statement: “Fact Sheet: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Marks World AIDS Day 2021 With Renewed Commitments to Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic by 2030”
• White House Proclamation: “President Biden: A Proclamation on World AIDS Day, 2021”
• President Biden Remarks: “Remarks by President Biden to Commemorate World AIDS Day, Launch the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and Kick Off the Global Fund Replenishment Process” 
• Secretary of State Blinken Statement: “Commemorating World AIDS Day”
• Factsheet: PEPFAR Latest Global Results [1 MB] & Infographic
• Factsheet: PEPFAR Population-Based Household Survey Results [389 KB]
• Factsheet: PEPFAR Core Program and Policy Priorities [662 KB]
• Infographic: PEPFAR’s Response to HIV and COVID-19
• Video: World AIDS Day 2021 (YouTube) 
• Article: “World AIDS Day: The progress made” (ShareAmerica.gov)

Other U.S. Government World AIDS Day 2021 Resources

• HHS Statement: “Statements by HHS Leaders Commemorating World AIDS Day on December 1, 2021” 
• NIH Statement: “NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2021” 
• USUN Statement: “Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on World AIDS Day”
• U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy for 2022-2025 
• Blog: “World AIDS Day 2021: Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice” (HIV.gov) 
• Blog: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Overseas World AIDS Day Activities and Resources

• PEPFAR World AIDS Day Country Reports
• Preliminary Results of Botswana’s National HIV Survey (BAIS V) 
• U.S. Embassy In Ethiopia: “Ending the HIV Epidemic, Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice”