We can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. The world has made great progress towards the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. That progress has been powered by progress in protecting human rights. But laws, policies and practices that punish, discriminate against and stigmatize women and girls, key populations, and other marginalized communities violate human rights and obstruct access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. Read press statement: On the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day UNAIDS calls for the protection of human rights as a path to protecting health for all

There is an urgent need to remove laws which harm people’s rights and to bring in laws which uphold the rights of every person. The path that ends AIDS is a rights path.

The recent, well-coordinated and well-funded global pushback against women’s rights, against the human rights of LGBTQ people, against sexual and reproductive health and rights, against democracy and against civic space is not only a threat to everyone’s freedom, it is a threat to everyone’s health.

In response to this threat, the AIDS movement and allies are “pushing back against the pushback, reminding world leaders of their commitments to uphold all human rights for all people. As communities across the world stand up for rights, the United Nations is not only on their side but by their side.

1 March this year is the tenth anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day. Upholding everyone’s rights is the responsibility of us all. Everyone can play a part in ending discrimination. On 1 March, and across the whole month of March, events, activities and messages will remind the world of this vital lesson and call to action: to protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.