56^th

Beyond 2025: Addressing health inequities through sustained HIV response, human rights, and harm reduction for people who use drugs

The 56th UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) thematic segment topic will be “Beyond 2025: Addressing health inequities through sustained HIV response, human rights, and harm reduction for people who use drugs” and will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 26 June 2025. 

The thematic segment aims to set out a vision and strategic direction for sustaining the HIV response for the community of people who use drugs. The segment will draw from lived experiences, on-the-ground evidence, and normative and norm-setting guidance and reports. In particular, the thematic segment will focus on the following issues:   

1. Status update since the 2014 UNAIDS PCB thematic segment. Particular emphasis will be placed on coverage of harm reduction programmes, including needles and syringes, opioid agonist maintenance therapy, overdose prevention and actions needed to scale up implementation––all in collaboration with drug user-led organizations.
2. Human rights and inequities. Since the 2016 UNGASS on Drugs, there have been several normative developments. Drug policies have become more prominent within the human rights architecture, alongside growing calls for decolonization of drug policies, given their impact on Indigenous communities. Additionally, the intersections of drug policy, climate change, war and humanitarian crises warrant further exploration. This theme will emphasize the critical roles played by nongovernmental organizations and drug user-led networks.
3. Sustainable futures. Future responses will necessarily entail grappling with shrinking resources and civic space, as well as with the growing anti-rights backlash. Harm reduction will need to be defined better and more robust service delivery models–– including strong community systems––will have to be promoted.
4. Way forward. This section will chart actionable, time-bound recommendations for Member States, civil society and communities, donors, multilateral agencies, the private sector, and the Joint Programme. 

Examples and learning from countries from different regions and across the Joint Programme will be highlighted during the thematic segment.