Christoforos Mallouris' journey from humble beginnings in Cyprus to becoming a prominent global HIV advocate is a powerful story of personal transformation.

In his youth, Mallouris struggled with accepting his sexuality. "I couldn’t admit to myself that I was gay," shares Mallouris. The burden of self-stigma made it difficult for him to value his life: "In a way, I was homophobic towards myself and others."   

At 29, while studying in Chicago, he was diagnosed with HIV. The diagnosis marked a pivotal moment in his life. "It changed how I understood myself, really forcing me to learn to value my life and accept who I am."

By the time he was diagnosed, he had already developed AIDS. Fortunately, Mallouris got support from his sister, who came to take care of him during his lowest moments.

Being HIV-positive in the United States as a foreign student presented its own set of challenges. "At the time, being HIV positive in the United States as a foreigner was illegal," Mallouris recalled, "so if the authorities found out, I would be deported." The fear of deportation hung over him as he was doing his PhD in astrophysics, but that fear also catalyzed his first act of activism.

Faced with health insurance that covered only two months of his costly HIV medication, Mallouris approached the Dean of Students at the University of Chicago. He boldly stated, "What are you going to do about it? I’m sure you don’t want this to go to the press." To his surprise, the Dean took immediate action, negotiating better health insurance coverage for all students with chronic illnesses.

As Mallouris’ health improved, he began to question his career path. Although he had completed his PhD in astrophysics, he no longer felt fulfilled enough by that field. He sought something that connected directly to being able to help people.

After securing a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Astrophysics in Paris, Mallouris found himself increasingly drawn to HIV work, so he started volunteering at a local NGO focused on HIV education and prevention for non-French speakers in Paris. It wasn’t long before he realized that this work was where his heart was.

He joined the Global Network of People Living with HIV, managing community empowerment programs in the HIV response. "I changed my career because of my HIV status," he said. "I wanted to do something that truly impacts lives."

Mallouris has had to overcome stigma and discrimination throughout his journey. Dating, for instance, was difficult. "There was a lot of rejection as soon as people found out I was HIV-positive," he shared. But despite the challenges, he found strength in the support of his friends, who have stood by him unconditionally. "I am lucky to have a strong network of support."

Mallouris joined UNAIDS in 2013, first as a Community Mobilization Advisor in Geneva and later as an Equality and Rights Advisor in Johannesburg. He describes UNAIDS as a supportive and inclusive workplace, where he feels valued for his skills and experience.

Mallouris highlights that the work to help secure treatment for people living with HIV is inseparable from the work to secure the recognition of people living with HIV as equal human beings. "Success in the HIV response depends on accepting all people, especially the most marginalized members of society.”

Mallouris is proud as he looks back, and hopeful as he looks ahead. He will always speak out for the rights of communities, even when—especially when—it isn’t popular.

HIV may have started as a burden in his life, but over time, it has become his strength, guiding him towards work that makes a profound difference, advancing a world where everyone is safe, has a place, and is welcome.

UN Plus, the association of United Nations (UN) staff members living with HIV has been re-established. 

Originally created in 2005 to advocate for the rights and well-being of UN staff members living with HIV around the world, the association paused its operations in 2021 due to global changes and funding challenges. Now, a newly established nine-member advisory committee from various UN entities and regions around the world is working again to ensure that UN staff members living with HIV have access to medications, health insurance benefits, and mental health support, as well as to actively combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination within the UN system.

“I want to express my gratitude for the admirable work that you are doing to revitalize the UN Plus mission,” said Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director. “Together we can make a difference, let’s ensure a safe, supportive UN environment for all, which must include people living with HIV,” she added.

As part of its revitalization efforts, UN Plus members conducted a global survey in late 2023 to understand the experiences and challenges of their colleagues living with HIV. 74 respondents from diverse backgrounds shared their experiences with stigma, discrimination, and health-related issues.   

The survey findings underscored that many UN workforce living with HIV still face workplace stigma and discrimination, which negatively affects their professional opportunities and personal well-being. Mental health concerns were also prominent, often stemming from issues related to their HIV status.

UN Plus will work closely with UN agencies, to develop and implement policies that specifically protect the rights of its staff living with HIV. This includes advocating for non-discriminatory hiring practices and career advancement opportunities.

John (JB) Bryant Collier, Chair of UN Plus Advisory Group stated that UN Plus will address those issues through a comprehensive plan informed by the survey findings. “UN Plus is committed to making UN workforce members living with HIV feel supported and empowered wherever they are in the world,” he said.

UN Plus plans to introduce training programs for UN staff members to raise awareness about HIV and HIV-related stigma and discrimination and mental health issues, as well as the importance of supportive workplace environments.

In addition, UN Plus will work to ensure that UN staff members living with HIV have access to the latest treatments and medications and will set up mechanisms for regular monitoring and reporting on their status and well-being, including periodic surveys and feedback sessions to continually adapt and improve the provision of support services.

The relaunch of UN Plus signifies a strong commitment to improving the work environment and overall well-being of UN workforce members living with HIV, and to ensuring they receive the support and resources necessary to thrive professionally and personally.

In the heart of the bustling Guatemala City, Juan used to face the daily grind of life with an unwavering spirit. He had been diagnosed with HIV several years ago and had learned to manage his health effectively. As a dedicated employee at a marketing firm, he poured creativity into every project he touched.

Life seemed to be on an upswing for him until an unexpected turn of events unfolded at the workplace. A colleague stumbled upon Juan's medical records and, in a breach of privacy, discovered his HIV status. Soon, whispers spread through the office, and Juan began to feel the cold stares and hushed conversations whenever he walked by. Ultimately, he was dismissed from his company for "restructuring reasons."

As the discrimination became more blatant, Juan decided it was time to take action. He sought advice from Líderes Profesionales, a network of lawyers specializing in discrimination cases for people living with HIV. With UNAIDS's support, this network is committed to fighting for justice and equality for marginalized communities.

Upon hearing Juan's story, the lawyers at Líderes Profesionales were appalled by the flagrant violation of privacy and the subsequent discrimination. They quickly assembled a legal team dedicated to ensuring justice for Juan. The lawyers explained the legal protections in place for individuals with HIV, emphasizing that workplace discrimination based on health status is a clear violation of the law.

Together with Juan, the legal team initiated a lawsuit against the firm. They filed a complaint citing violations of privacy, discrimination, and failure to provide a safe and inclusive work environment and asked for payment of benefits and compensation for unjustified dismissal.

Líderes Profesionales worked tirelessly to expose Juan's unjust treatment, seeking justice for him and advocating for broader change in workplace policies. They organized workshops to sensitize companies, urging them to implement comprehensive diversity and inclusion training and policy.

As of December 2023, the case is still ongoing. The legal team's goal is to seek compensation for Juan and foster an environment where such discrimination would not be tolerated in the future.

"Juan's experience and five other discrimination-related workplace cases this year inspire us to continue our advocacy work," says Julio Rodríguez, Director of Líderes Profesionales. "We redouble our efforts to support individuals facing discrimination, using each case as an opportunity to raise awareness and push for systemic change."

In Guatemala, 31,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV. HIV-related stigma and discrimination are still pervasive. According to the latest National Stigma Index (2017), 14% of people living with HIV reported losing their job or source of income due to their positive status for HIV, and 13% of people living with HIV reported being denied employment or opportunity to work because of HIV.

 "Having access to legal support really represented a turning point for Juan. Empowered by it, he is a more vocal advocate for HIV awareness and anti-discrimination efforts," says Marie Engel, UNAIDS Country Director for Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. "Through his journey, Juan contributes to a more just and inclusive society for all." 

Launched by the UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, in mid-September, the Respect campaign is raising awareness among UNAIDS staff of the UNAIDS/World Health Organization Policy on Preventing and Addressing Abusive Conduct, updated in early 2021.

“It is our right to work in a respectful environment, a right that each and every one of us is entitled to, as well as obligated to uphold. Together, we will make our workplace equal, safe and empowering,” wrote Ms Byanyima in a message to all staff.

The policy expanded the scope of protection to include interns and consultants and now describes, with examples, types of abusive conduct. The new policy also removed the requirement for complaints to be made within a specific time limit.

“A few colleagues came up to me to share their own stories and situations when they didn’t feel valued. They were appreciative that we are naming these issues. This is a way to show our support and explain avenues to address these situations to those who had to endure them. It also increases the stakes for those who act in this way because they know that all of us know this is not acceptable,” said Mumtaz Mia, who leads the culture transformation process at UNAIDS.

The campaign aims at improving knowledge and understanding of what is considered abusive conduct by using everyday examples and is based on six different experiences representative of abusive conduct, from discrimination, to abuse of authority, to sexual harassment and homophobia.

“Every staff member and consultant at UNAIDS is entitled to and has the right to expect a safe and respectful workplace. This is an obligation that each one of us, from the Executive Director to our ancillary staff, has to our workmates. Our staff surveys have told us that hasn’t always been the experience for everyone working in the organization and so the Respect campaign is a much-needed and positive development which the Staff Association hopes will contribute to building a better and healthier UNAIDS workplace for each and every one of us,” said Stuart Watson, Chair of the UNAIDS Secretariat Staff Association.

As part of the campaign, conversations on abusive conduct are taking place within UNAIDS teams, with staff invited to learn more about abusive conduct. Looking to the future, the campaign will continue, building on the current campaign and reflecting the lived experiences of staff across the organization.

The recent UNAIDS Global Staff Survey revealed that 55% of respondents feel that UNAIDS takes allegations of discrimination, abuse of authority, ill treatment and sexual harassment seriously. Half of the respondents also said that they feel comfortable to speak up and address colleagues about incivility or exclusionary behaviour they experience or observe. While these are above benchmark figures, UNAIDS’ management will keep monitoring the situation. The aim is to narrow the gap between experienced abusive conduct and reporting and action against the conduct, as well as the overall reduction of abusive conduct for a safe, equal and empowered UNAIDS for everyone.

Erva-Jean Stephens works as a Strategic Information Adviser in the UNAIDS Country Office in Jamaica. She describes her role as using evidence-informed data to shape programmes and policies that contribute to the country’s development.

Ms Stephen’s professional career is entwined with an activist’s desire to see better health outcomes for ordinary Jamaicans.

“I try to serve people first,” says Ms Stephens. “People reach out to me because I make myself accessible and I easily relate to their needs. I naturally build networks outside of the work environment that I think might be beneficial to the work we do.” 

She supports the nongovernmental organization Eve for Life because she believes that young women and girls living with or affected by HIV are being left behind with regard to international funding and programmatic focus. Beyond providing technical support to help Eve for Life increase its funding, Ms Stevens has mobilized private sector organizations and UN Cares, the United Nations system-wide workplace programme on HIV, to raise funds and create care packages for young women and their children.

Under her leadership, UN Cares Jamaica has trained United Nations staff members in the country on issues such as unconscious bias and the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and of people who use drugs. In 2016, the United Nations team in Jamaica received an award from the United Nations Secretary-General for its work on raising awareness about HIV and noncommunicable diseases.

In 2018, UN Cares Jamaica launched UN Moves. This is an offshoot of a project led by the Ministry of Health that aims to harness the power of the private and public sectors to help create a healthier, happier population through nutrition, exercise and education. But for Ms Stevens, the most critical area of UN Cares’ work remains addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

“There needs to be ongoing training on cultivating and maintaining a model work environment where stigma and discrimination have no place. Sometimes we may not realize to what extent people are looking at us in the United Nations and how important it is for us to walk the talk,” said Ms Stevens. She thinks about her own journey and how through the UN Cares programme she has learned to identify and uproot her own biases.

Ms Stevens has a degree in environmental health and food safety and a master’s degree in public health with a specialization in medical epidemiology. She began her career with the Ministry of Health, using monitoring and evaluation techniques to ensure outbreaks of malaria and food-borne illnesses were quickly brought under control.

She hopes to be part of the team that sees the end of the AIDS epidemic.

“When you look at the history of the Caribbean in terms of eradicating diseases, political commitment and community involvement have always intersected,” she explains. “To meet our commitments on controlling the transmission of HIV, we need to see more meaningful community engagement and leadership, supported by political will. I am here to provide the strategic information necessary to help realize that goal.”

Daniela de Barros, a Finance Assistant in the UNAIDS Country Office in Brazil, is also a UNAIDS Gender Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean.

She traces her interest and motivation to helping others and promoting equality back to a good deed in her childhood. “It was one of those dream-come-true situations. When my sister and I were younger, my parents couldn’t afford to pay for ballet classes. But their best friend’s sister ran a ballet studio and, one day, she invited us to start taking classes free of charge. From that point on, I never stopped dancing.” Ms de Barros says that dance has taught her to be disciplined, organized, focused and connected “body and soul” to her life and work.

“Besides all these important skills that I use all the time as a professional and as a mother of adolescent twins, I have also taken another important lesson from my ballet classes: I have learned how to connect with myself and meet my potential and my inner power,” she said. “Isn’t this what we want from such an important initiative like the UNAIDS Gender Action Plan? Empowerment and transformation for all women inside and outside this organization?”

From her role overseeing financial, administrative and operational aspects of the UNAIDS Country Office, Ms de Barros has seen that change management is crucial for maintaining staff motivation. “Although change generates some insecurity, in the end it can be a breath of fresh air. I have learned to recognize that change is important for organizations.”

Ms de Barros believes it is time that women were encouraged to be confident about achieving their goals. “The Gender Action Plan we have inside UNAIDS not only reinforces our self-confidence and courage, it also inspires men to support the women they work with,” she said.

Ms de Barros is sure that “UNAIDS chose her,” rather than the other way around. “I studied international relations and always wanted to work for the United Nations, but I confess I had never heard of UNAIDS until a friend of mine told me I should apply for the position,” she said. “I have grown a lot and learned so much from UNAIDS.”

She says that turning 40 years old has come with some significant changes for her and she now wants to engage in projects that can transform lives. For more than six months she’s been teaching ballet to other women and is just about to start what she describes as “a recently-born old wish”: teaching dance to young kids and adolescents from poor communities in Brasília, where she lives.

“I like to think of ballet as the realization of a Buddhist thought that says we see our external world from within, and that by working on our internal perspective, we can change the world outside. It is the power of dance and where it can take us. And this is what I want to teach children and women through the project.”

One year after the launch of the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 2018–2022 (UN-SWAP 2.0), UNAIDS has been rated as one of the best performing agencies in the United Nations system, meeting or exceeding all 17 of its performance indicators.

The updated and expanded action plan, implemented in 2018 across the United Nations system, was designed to accelerate progress on gender mainstreaming at all levels of the United Nations system and to provide the best overview of progress on gender equality work and the gender-related results of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN-SWAP reporting and accountability process is managed by UN Women, which receives annual reports on the implementation of the plan from all reporting United Nations organizations. In response to the annual report submitted earlier in 2019 by the UNAIDS Secretariat, UN Women, in a letter from its Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i., has commended the UNAIDS Secretariat on its results, in particular for its work to strengthen accountability mechanisms for gender equality and the empowerment of women through the development of its Gender Action Plan 2018–2023.

The letter also commended UNAIDS for promoting a culture of inclusion. A noteworthy example in 2018 was the introduction of a single parental leave policy that extends adoption and paternity to 16–18 weeks, depending on the number of children, and introduces surrogacy leave of the same duration. UN Women noted that “this more equitable policy framework supports caregiving by men and women and can help in overturning perceptions that women of childbearing age are potentially too expensive or an absentee risk when compared with similarly qualified men.”

In terms of progress to be made, UNAIDS was encouraged by UN Women to sustain and strengthen efforts to achieve the equal representation of women at all levels and to continue to promote an inclusive work culture, particularly through the implementation of its Management Action Plan.

“The UNAIDS Secretariat continues to be fully compliant with the UN-SWAP framework. Yet, as UN Women points out, progress is fragile and the gains made can quickly be reversed. We must do more and better to achieve the equal representation of women at all levels and continue to improve our organizational culture. These are not just boxes to tick but issues that require continuous consideration and attention,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i.

Along with the letter, UN Women shared a set of infographics summarizing UNAIDS’ progress against the UN-SWAP performance indicators, all of which have been compiled into a report. UN Women’s assessment is made on the basis of self-reporting and evidence submitted by each organization and validated by UN Women. For strengthened accountability, UNAIDS conducted a peer review with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which confirmed the accuracy of UNAIDS’ self-assessment.