New Delhi: Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1 every year. The United Nations (UN) and other international organisations support this day, which promotes equality before the law and is practised throughout all UN member countries.
The day, first celebrated on March 1, 2014, was launched by UNAIDS on February 27, 2014, with a major event in Beijing, China. UNAIDS called on people to make some noise around ‘zero discrimination’, speak up, and prevent discrimination from standing in the way of achieving ambitions, dreams, and goals.
This year, the theme for Zero Discrimination Day is ‘We Stand Together’. In this article, we will understand what the theme means.
Understanding the “We Stand Together” Theme
According to the UNAIDS website, communities are vital for keeping the HIV response and global health efforts strong. They are dedicated to treating everyone affected by HIV with dignity and respect.
For over 40 years, communities have faced many challenges, such as stigma, discrimination, criminalisation, cuts in funding, and political resistance. Despite these challenges, they are key in ensuring health services reach those in need, especially vulnerable populations.
The Crucial Role of Communities in the HIV Response
On this year’s Zero Discrimination Day, UNAIDS calls on countries, donors, and partners to support communities in their work for sustainable HIV responses by ensuring:
- Community-led organisations can provide life-saving services and advocate without facing discrimination or harassment.
- Community-led organisations can be legally registered and receive stable funding in the countries where they work.
- Communities can provide health services to vulnerable and marginalised groups.
- Communities receive support and funding to uphold human rights, including ending the criminalisation of key populations, stigma, and gender inequalities.
Government health services involve community representatives as partners in developing, implementing, and monitoring health programs to ensure they meet the needs of people living with HIV and key populations.
Addressing Challenges & Investing in Community-Led Initiatives
People living with, at risk of, or affected by HIV are crucial in the fight against HIV. They both provide personal health services and connect others to these services. They also build trust, develop new ideas, monitor policy implementation, and hold service providers accountable for human rights violations.
There is clear evidence that community-led initiatives positively impact the sustainability of the HIV response. However, these efforts are often overlooked, underfunded, and sometimes attacked. Crackdowns on civil society and the rights of marginalised communities hinder their ability to deliver HIV prevention and treatment services.
Insufficient funding leaves community-led initiatives struggling, making it hard for them to continue their work and grow. If these challenges are addressed, community-led organisations can make a bigger impact in the fight to end AIDS. To meet the 2030 HIV targets, investing in community-led responses is essential.
The recent changes in US funding have caused anxiety and concern for many. This puts life-saving HIV medicines, services, and programmes—including community-led prevention, treatment, care, and support—at risk. This moment also calls for recognition of the 41 countries and many partners that support the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination. With the active involvement of community partners, this initiative is crucial in removing systemic barriers and inequalities, leading to a fairer HIV response.
As the United Nations looks to sustain the AIDS response now and in the future, the international body must reaffirm our commitment to community autonomy, justice, dignity and health equity.
Zero Discrimination Day 2025, themed “We Stand Together”, highlights the vital role of communities in combating HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS urges increased support for the organisations, emphasising legal registration, stable funding, and government partnerships to achieve the 2030 HIV targets and end AIDS. The call to action emphasises community autonomy, justice, and health equity. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
