Guatemala

Key Results in 2022-2023

About 4.2 million people improved their awareness of HIV prevention and testing, including vertical transmission of HIV, via a nationwide campaign.
Hundreds of representatives from the government, judicial, civil society, academia and the private sector improved their literacy of HIV, gender equality and human rights through multiple capacity building initiatives.
The newly developed national report on the human rights situation of people living with HV and key populations serves as vital reference in shaping strategic and rights-based HIV programmes.
Strategic support and coordination enabled mobilization of US$ 36 million from the Global Fund and PEPFAR to sustain the national HIV response in 2024-2026.

Joint Programme Results

In 2022-2023, the Joint Programme in Guatemala made significant progress in scaling up access to quality facility- and community-led HIV services and information. For instance, the Knowing is Living Better campaign reached an estimated 4.2 million people with HIV prevention and testing information and services, including prevention of vertical transmission of HIV in adolescent pregnancies, in commemoration of the 2023 World AIDS Day (UNICEF, UNAIDS Secretariat). A clinical guideline for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administration was developed to support expansion of PrEP services across the country, beyond the pilot community PrEP projects. Assessment of programmes and financial needs for PrEP also strengthened strategic evidence for the development of the latest national HIV strategy and Global Fund funding request (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). Additionally, the national guide on HIV prevention in emergency settings was revised and healthcare professionals received training on the updated guide (UNFPA).

Several capacity building initiatives strengthened HIV knowledge among key stakeholders working in the national HIV response. For instance, a newly launched online course encompassing several HIV-related topics, including prevention, treatment, gender equality, human rights and international frameworks guiding the global HIV response strengthened the capacity of teachers from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of San Carlos. A total of 67 representatives from the ministries of health and governance and civil society also completed the newly developed Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) course, in partnership with the National Board for CSE (UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, a joint United Nations initiative resulted in 100 members of the National Civil Police receiving training on HIV and its linkages with gender-based violence and the rights of LGBTQI+. In partnership with the nonprofit organization Associatión IDEI, midwives from the Western region were empowered to advocate for a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention and care with a gender perspective (UNAIDS Secretariat).

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

The Joint Programme joined the National Human Rights Institution in Guatemala (PDH) and the civil society organization Red Legal in a partnership that resulted in the development of the XI National Report on the Human Rights Situation of People Living with HIV and Key Populations in the Legal Network. This annual report became a critical resource in shaping strategic and rights-based HIV programmes in Guatemala (UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat). To improve access to justice among people living with HIV and key populations, 220 representatives of nongovernmental organizations and 50 lawyers and law students received training on human rights and rights to justice. Besides, legal experts from the nongovernmental organization Professional Leaders offered 197 free legal consultations for people who experienced human rights violations linked to their HIV serological status and/or gender identity. The legal experts also implemented a communication campaign It’s not fair, it’s not right reaching hundreds of people through six videos with messages on human rights violations experienced by people living with HIV and key populations and legal avenues for addressing these issues. In addition, 1000 representatives from government, judicial, police, civil society, private sector and people living with HIV working in the HIV response gained broader understanding of human rights, gender and HIV through multiple training sessions supported by the Joint Programme (UNAIDS Secretariat).

A newly developed national strategic plan (2023-2028) intends to further galvanize actions towards addressing gender-based violence against adolescent girls, women and transgender women (UN Women, UNAIDS Secretariat, OHCHR). The nongovernmental organization Proyecto Vida trained 15 community law promoters to support women survivors of gender-based violence while 45 women received guidance on reporting violence cases, thanks to the Joint Programme’s support. A total of 200 women survivors of gender-based violence were sensitized on the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights while improving their access to HIV and STI services through a partnership with the nongovernmental organization Latiendo Juntas (UNAIDS Secretariat).

Strategic support and coordination efforts of the Joint Programme enabled the Government to secure US$ 36 million from the Global Fund and PEPFAR to sustain the national HIV response in 2024-2026 with a focus on prevention, case monitoring, decentralization of treatment services and human rights. Furthermore, the Government, with support from the Joint Programme, also successfully mobilized US$ 160 000 for scaling up differentiated and community-led HIV services among key populations through the Soy Clave regional project. The funds will be used to develop a social contracting strategy, fund a feasibility study on female condoms, support advocacy for new laws and policies and campaigns to eliminate discrimination against people from key populations (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).