On the occasion of World AIDS Day, organizations, celebrities and experts are calling on the German government and the international community to take immediate action to avert an impending catastrophe. The German AIDS Aid and numerous signatories warn of dramatic setbacks in the fight against HIV and AIDS, which are caused by worldwide cuts in funding.

Supporters include renowned personalities such as HIV co-discoverer and Nobel Prize winner Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, former politicians such as Rita Süssmuth and Klaus Wowereit, as well as openly HIV-positive celebrities such as Conchita Wurst and Georg Uecker. Organizations such as the International AIDS Society, the Action Alliance against AIDS, the German Red Cross and Plan International Germany also support the appeal.

Recent developments are jeopardizing decades of progress: HIV is now treatable, and the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 seemed achievable. But massive savings are putting this at risk. The U.S. is discontinuing its USAID program and reducing further aid, the Global Fund is missing its funding target, and Germany is reducing its contribution by 300 million euros to one billion for the next three years, even though the need is increasing. In addition, UNAIDS will be dissolved by 2026, and the EU has almost stopped its support for HIV programmes. In Germany, the number of infections is rising, while prevention measures in municipalities are being cut.

The consequences are already being felt: people are losing access to therapies, prevention is being stopped, and the number of infections and deaths could rise again. Experts emphasise that severely affected countries in particular are suffering from the effects where successful measures are being dismantled.

The campaign “Together. Right now.” makes the threat visible, with messages such as the idea of a pandemic or death from treatable diseases. An animation clip warns of a domino effect caused by the cuts. World AIDS Day, celebrated since 1988, honours the deceased and shows solidarity with those affected, while calling on policymakers to provide more funding and promote international solutions to tackle the crisis.

Further information:

Website of the wake-up call with all initial signatories Further information: www.aidshilfe.de/weckruf

Wake-up call with initial signatories (PDF)

Background information on magazin.hiv

World AIDS Day campaign “Together. Right now.” by the Federal Institute of Public Health, the German AIDS Foundation and the German AIDS Aid

Video clip “Stop the domino effect!”

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.