Abuja, Nigeria – September 2025

A coalition of community networks and civil society organizations in Nigeria has raised strong opposition to a recommendation under the UN80 reform initiative that seeks to “sunset UNAIDS by the end of 2026.”

In a statement issued in Abuja, the coalition described the proposal as “ill-timed, dangerously shortsighted, and a betrayal of communities living with and affected by HIV.” They warned that dismantling the UN agency dedicated to the global HIV/AIDS response would reverse decades of progress and threaten the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

While acknowledging that global HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have declined over the years, the groups noted that progress remains uneven across regions. They emphasized that UNAIDS continues to play a critical role in ensuring inclusive, multisectoral, and sustainable national responses led by governments and communities.

“AIDS is not over, and dismantling UNAIDS now risks undermining donor confidence, discouraging key partners like PEPFAR and the Global Fund, and weakening the partnerships that place communities at the heart of the response,” the coalition said.

The organizations also questioned who would assume leadership in coordinating global HIV interventions if UNAIDS were dissolved, and whether the United Nations had abandoned its pledge to end AIDS by 2030.

Reaffirming UNAIDS’ role as the only UN body that prioritizes civil society and community participation, they warned that removing such a pillar of advocacy and leadership would “betray women, young people, and key populations still grappling with the epidemic.”

The coalition called on the UN Secretary-General and Member States to reject the proposal, strengthen UNAIDS’ mandate, and ensure that the integrity of the UN80 reform process is preserved without jeopardizing the HIV response.

“We urge the Secretary-General to halt the uncertainty this proposal has caused among communities, civil society, and donors. The path forward must reaffirm UNAIDS’ role in accelerating the fight to end AIDS by 2030,” the groups appealed.

The coalition, which includes the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), the Nigeria Key Population Health and Rights Network (NKPHRN), the International Community of Women Living with HIV-West Africa (ICW-WA), and other organizations, vowed to engage with the UN and member states to ensure that no community is left behind.