Despite important shifts in geopolitical landscape, national priorities and financial considerations that put the sustainability of ongoing HIV and human rights initiatives at risk, the Joint Programme continued to work with partners, parliamentarians and governments to safeguard past progress, remove punitive and discriminatory laws, and strengthen non-discriminatory policies across health, education and workplace settings.
Significant advances were achieved in workplace policy reform through ILO’s support, such as in Malawi where the National Gender Policy was finalized and workplace codes addressing violence and harassment were adopted, and in Ukraine, where over 230 workplaces adopted non-discrimination and HIV-inclusive policies. In Spain, a landmark ruling recognized workplace discrimination based on HIV serological status for the first time; an achievement that resulted from targeted efforts by the national AIDS coordination authority of Spain and local partners with the Secretariat’s technical support.
Evidence-informed and rights-based legal and policy environments expanded protections and helped reduce stigma, and remove barriers to HIV services. In 2025, the Joint Programme supported 66 countries to remove or amend punitive and discriminatory laws and policies and/or to develop protective ones affecting the HIV response. For instance, protective legal reforms in China, India, the Philippines and Thailand improved confidentiality, reduced stigma and expanded safe access to testing, treatment and social protection. UNDP advanced the implementation of the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy across multiple policy fora, resulting in several countries pursuing reform towards decriminalization of drug use, proportionality of penalties, gender equality and expansion of harm reduction.
Key population rights were advanced through evidence generation, policy influence and national advocacy. Key results in 2025 include the data- and evidence-driven advocacy initiatives and policy dialogues conducted by the Secretariat to end mandatory sexual orientation, gender identity and expression conversion therapy in policies and practices in Indonesia, in collaboration with national networks of LGBTQI+ people. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretariat facilitated engagement with religious leaders to secure commitments to end hate speech against sexual and gender minorities and promote inclusive dialogue among them.
In the face of regression of human rights and gender equality in the context of HIV, an Interagency Africa Working Group co-chaired by UNDP and OHCHR coordinated UN system responses to the pushback against LGBTQI+ populations. Key developments included cross-country community-led dialogues with networks of people living with HIV, religious leaders and key population communities in 14 African countries, which generated concrete collective action plans to advance human rights and counter the diminishing civil space that is undermining human rights-based access to HIV and other health services. Through the Global Partnership for action to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination, communities in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda received support to address internalized stigma among women living with HIV, reaching nearly 500 people through Afrocentric research, storytelling, peer-led support and capacity building. In 2025, Nigeria became the 41st member of the Global Partnership for action to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The Joint Programme also partnered with the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) to help address stigma, strengthen health systems, empower communities and inform policy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guyana, Ghana and Indonesia, leading to more inclusive care, reduced self-stigma and stronger community leadership.
UNODC strengthened enabling legal and institutional environments for HIV responses within law enforcement and correctional systems, by promoting human rights–based and public health-informed approaches. Over 700 law enforcement officers across 10 countries applied public health-oriented policing approaches through UNODC’s support, thereby strengthening referral pathways and cooperation with health providers.
