Civil society played a crucial role in this meeting, both through the NGO Delegation and the many Observers who participated in the meeting. Following a controversial discussion over the human rights of key populations that arose in the last PCB, there was great concern that the agenda items and related decisions in this meeting (which included men who have sex with men and transgender persons, as well as stigma and discrimination) would be contested, and that some countries were attempting to limit the work of UNAIDS in these areas.
The overwhelming presence of civil society at the meeting allowed the NGO Delegation more consultation and more influence in its negotiations, especially in the drafting room (where the wording of the decisions are discussed and agreed). In the end, the key decision points passed, notably the decision point on the agenda item “Reducing HIV transmission among men who have sex with men and transgender people.” This decision took note of the update report from UNAIDS on Reducing HIV transmission among men who have sex with men and transgender people, and “calls on UNAIDS and all partners to intensify efforts to meet the health needs of men who have sex with men and transgender people in the context of HIV and to ensure non-discrimination,” and to increase their “direct participation in national, regional and global HIV policy and programming.” Iran disassociated itself from this decision point at the end of the meeting.