As Sonal Giani steps down as an NGO Delegate to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), we recognize her significant contributions and acknowledge the unfortunate reality that her departure is happening amid an increasingly difficult political climate. Her tenure was marked by firm advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, and inclusive global health policies—work that remains urgent as challenges to these issues grow.

We mourn the loss of Jacqueline Rocha Côrtes, a trailblazing activist whose life was dedicated to fighting for the rights of people living with HIV, particularly those in the transgender community. Jacqueline passed away on 14 August 2024, in São Paulo.

The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board is gathering input for our 2024 report on Community Leadership in the HIV response, and we need your voice!

We are excited to announce the call for case studies for this year’s NGO report, which will focus on Community Leadership. This annual report sheds light on critical issues relevant to the global HIV response. This year, we’re spotlighting the indispensable role of community-led activities in achieving the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

We are seeking community proposals for thematic segments at the 56th and 57th PCB meetings, scheduled for June and December 2025. In line with the decision made at the 53rd meeting in December 2023, this call emphasizes the importance of community involvement in shaping the agenda to reflect the most pressing issues in the global HIV response.

The continuous underfunding of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has now trickled down to the Joint Programme’s governance. It is threatening the meaningful involvement of civil society in shaping the Joint Programme. The NGO Delegation reveals that multiple unsuccessful attempts have been made to engage UNAIDS and its funding Member States regarding the financial shortages. 

In 2019, San Patten was presented with an opportunity to co-run an independent external Expert Advisory Committee on Evaluation for UNAIDS. The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board had approved the establishment of an independent evaluation function reporting directly to the UNAIDS Board. The function would comprise evaluation experts appointed by Member States, civil society, and UNAIDS Sponsors. Patten was nominated by the NGO Delegation to represent civil society in the committee. This seemed like a natural progression of Patten’s career, as she had been working in the field of HIV/AIDS for more than two decades at that point. 

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of John Rock, a distinguished member of the NGO Delegation of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) between 2013 and 2014. John’s dedication and passion for international development, particularly in the field of HIV/AIDS, left an indelible mark on countless lives and communities.

The NGO Delegation is gearing up for its Strategic Planning Meeting, scheduled from 15-17 July 2024, to be held in Munich, Germany. This pivotal gathering aims to chart a course for the delegation’s future endeavors, addressing critical global health challenges and refining strategies for impactful advocacy. To ensure the success of this endeavor, the delegation is extending an invitation for a skilled facilitator, preferably based in Europe (due to budgetary constraints), to lead the discussions and guide the participants towards achieving their objectives.

Thank you to everyone who joined our recent Global Webinar for Civil Society! We delved into insights from the 53rd PCB meeting and looked ahead to the 54th PCB meeting. Missed the webinar? Catch up by watching the recordings through the links below. Stay tuned for more updates and events!