The UN established UNAIDS in 1994 to coordinate the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS aims to prevent the spread of HIV, provide care and support to those living with HIV, reduce vulnerability to HIV, and alleviate the impact of the epidemic. Through UNAIDS' efforts and partnerships with other organizations, deaths from AIDS-related illnesses have declined significantly from 2.3 million in 2005 to 1.6 million in 2012, treatment access has increased dramatically, and millions of lives have been saved due to reduced prices for antiretroviral drugs.

1. SUCCESS STORY OF THE
UNITED NATIONS

2. HISTORY OF AIDS
In June 1981, scientists in the United States reported the first clinical evidence
of a disease that would later become known as acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome or AIDS. Its cause, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), was
identified in 1983. Thirty years later the AIDS epidemic has spread to every
corner of the world and more than 60 million people have been infected with
HIV.

3. TRANSMISSION OF HIV
HIV is found in the bodily fluids of a person who has been infected - blood,
semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It can be transmitted through the
following ways:
• unprotected sexual contact,
• injecting drugs with non-sterile injecting needles,
• from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding if the
mother is HIV positive, etc...

4. FORMATION OF THE UN
It was established in 1994 by a resolution of the UN Economic and Social
Council and was launched in January 1996. UNAIDS is guided by a
Programme Coordinating Board with representatives of 22 governments from
all geographic regions, the UNAIDS Cosponsors, and five representatives of
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including associations of people
living with HIV/AIDS.

5. THE UNAIDS
The mission of UNAIDS is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded
response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV,
providing care and support to those already living with the virus, reducing the
vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV and alleviating the impact
of the epidemic. UNAIDS seeks to prevent the HIV/AIDS epidemic from
becoming a severe pandemic.

6. FIVE GOALS OF THE
UNAIDS
• Leadership and advocacy for effective action on the epidemic;
• Strategic information and technical support to guide efforts against AIDS
worldwide ;
• Tracking, monitoring and evaluation of the epidemic and of responses to it ;
• Civil society engagement and the development of strategic partnerships;
• Mobilization of resources to support an effective response.

7. ANTI-RETROVIRAL (ARV)
In just the past two years, HIV treatment access grew
by 63% around the world. The massive scale up over
the last 24 months enabled tens of thousands of
people living with HIV to receive lifesaving
antiretroviral therapy for the first time. The price of
antiretroviral drugs has reduced dramatically from
US$ 10 000 per person a decade ago to around US$
100 annually in some countries.

8. The UN is the leader when it comes to the global battle against HIV/AIDS.
According to the most recent report of UNAIDS, the number of people who
died from AIDS and the opportunistic disease caused by AIDS has decreased
from 2.3 million in 2005 to 1.6 million in 2012. There are more and more people
who have HIV and who are supported by the UN and its sub-organizations.

9. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE UN
There were more than 700 000 fewer new HIV infections globally in 2011 than
in 2001. Africa has cut AIDS-related deaths by one third in the past six years.
And as services have been scaled up, uptake has followed. In fact, what had
taken a decade before is now being achieved in 24 months. In the past two
years there has been a 60% increase in the number of people accessing
lifesaving treatment—8 million people are on antiretroviral therapy. In 2011
more than half a million fewer people died from AIDS-related illnesses than six
years earlier. It’s a dramatic turning point. In 14 countries, AIDS-related deaths
dropped by more than 50% between 2005 and 2011

10. SUPPORT FROM OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS
As the main advocate for global action on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS leads,
strengthens and supports an expanded response aimed at preventing the
transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of
individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, and alleviating the impact of the
epidemic. To fulfil this mandate, UNAIDS is supported by voluntary
contributions from governments, foundations, corporations, private groups (for
example, students, universities, sporting clubs, etc.) and individuals.
In 2003, more than US$118.5 million was received from 30 governments,
philanthropic organizations, individuals from around the world and others. The
largest donors were the Netherlands followed by Norway, the United States,
Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan. In 2004, 35 governments contributed
to UNAIDS.

11. Since 1995, antiretroviral therapy has saved 14 million life
years in low- and middle-income countries.
Because of the UN, fewer deaths from AIDS-related illnesses
has transformed societies: more people, regaining their
health, are returning to work and taking care of their families.