WORLD AIDS DAY
World AIDS Day – December 1
World AIDS Day, commemorated on 1 December every year since 1988, is dedicated to raising awareness about AIDS caused by the spread of HIV infection and also to mourning those who have died of the disease. It is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles and a moment of solidarity for people around the world who are affected by HIV, as still, in some contexts, the disease remains a significant public health challenge.
Resources
Every year, on the 1st of December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day, raising awareness about HIV and AIDS around the globe. It is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles.
Every year on December 1st, the world commemorates World AIDS Day, raising awareness about HIV and AIDS worldwide. It is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles. According to the WHO, in 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally, and approximately 630,000 people died from HIV‑related causes in 2023.
Written by ISID Emerging Leaders, Nelisiwe Mhlabane & Nadia Noreen
Every year on December 1st, World AIDS Day brings the global community together to reflect, recommit, and re-energize efforts to end HIV/AIDS. It is a day of solidarity with people living with HIV, a moment to honour those we have lost, and an opportunity to reaffirm that the fight against HIV remains a public-health priority.
In 2025, the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response” speaks directly to the challenges faced by health systems worldwide. Pandemics, humanitarian crises, climate-driven disasters, political instability, and inequities in health access have disrupted the momentum built over decades. Yet, amid these challenges lies an opportunity for transformation.