In 2022, the Joint Programme advocated for, collaborated with and convened partners for supporting countries for the removal and/or amendment of punitive and discriminatory laws and policies relating to HIV and/or develop protective ones.

As research shows, countries criminalizing key populations saw 18–24% poorer HIV outcomes. Thus, the Joint Programme intensified its efforts to support countries in removing punitive norms and approaches to deliver on the 10–10–10 strategic commitment.

The Joint Programme further drove important progress in aligning laws with scientific evidence and human rights principles, supporting 97 countries on HIV-related laws and rights (including decriminalization), including 87 countries on working with and for key populations.

Through strategic partnerships, the Joint Programme  also achieved concrete gains in supporting efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination, including through leveraging the Global Partnership for action to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination (which 5 countries newly joined in 2022).