Ending the stigma - World AIDS Day 2025
There is no doubt that in the past few decades, huge strides have been made by those at the forefront of the fight against HIV and AIDS. Breakthroughs in treatment have transformed HIV into a manageable condition for many people, and the stigma of living with HIV or AIDS has been significantly lessened by tireless campaigning, education and activism all over the world.
But if we take a closer look at the current picture (UK HIV statistics - National AIDS Trust) we can see there’s still a way to travel.
As of 2024, there are approximately 40.8 million people living with HIV worldwide, with a significant number in the WHO African Region.
In 2024, an estimated 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV.
In 2024, an estimated 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
As of 2024, 31.6 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, a significant increase from previous years.
Approximately 87% of people living with HIV knew their status in 2024.
The global community is working towards ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, with a target of 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status and receiving treatment by 2025.
To reach that goal, it’s crucial that we continue to reflect, remember and celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost to AIDS related illnesses, and to show our solidarity for communities and regions still effected by the disease.
Every year on 1 December, World AIDS Day gives us this opportunity. It is a day to honour the millions of lives lost to AIDS, stand with people living with HIV today, and commit to ending stigma and inequality. It’s also a reminder that however far we may have come, the story of HIV is still unfolding, and that every one of us can part a play in shaping what comes next.
The emotional, social and historical weight of the AIDS crisis remains fresh in many minds, and World AIDS Day gives us space to reflect on the grief, the activism, the silence, and the breakthroughs and to acknowledge the people and communities who continue to fight for dignity and justice.
There are many meaningful and personal ways to engage with World AIDS Day, whether you live in Berkshire or anywhere else in the UK, but we’ve brought together a few suggestions and resources.
Learn Through Books and Stories
Stories keep memories alive. They help us understand what statistics cannot and help us to continue to understand and remember the AIDS crisis beyond 1st December each year. There many powerful books and novels which explore HIV/AIDS from different perspectives: its history, human cost, activism, stigma, and lived experience. Our recommendations are:
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic, by Randy Shilts
1989, by Val McDermid
Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir, by Paul Monette
Listen to Real Voices
Podcasts and interviews let us hear directly from people living with HIV today. CHIVA’s ArcHIVe Podcast shares stories from young people growing up with HIV in the UK. Listening to lived experience reminds us that HIV is not a historical issue but part of our world right now.
https://www.chiva.org.uk/about/our-podcasts/the-archive-podcast/
Online talks and panels, especially those released around 1 December, are also rich sources of insight. Many charities host webinars that explore stigma, global inequality, advances in treatment, and the future of HIV activism.
Connect with Local Support and Community
If you’re in Berkshire, Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) is a cornerstone of the local HIV-support community. They offer peer groups, education, rapid HIV testing and advocacy, often hosting events or awareness activities around World AIDS Day. Attending an event, sharing information, or initiating conversations within your own networks helps keep awareness alive.
Wear the Red Ribbon
Buying a red ribbon from the National Aids trust, will enable you to visibly display your support as well as making a small financial contribution to support ongoing their ongoing work. The National Aids Trust website is also a great place to explore other ways to show solidarity, from donations to volunteering, and holds lots of great resources for further understanding.
https://worldaidsday.org/join-in/
National AIDS Trust - We're the UK's HIV rights charity
Perhaps the most important part of World AIDS Day is what happens after it. Continue learning about the realities of HIV today, challenge misconceptions when you hear them, support inclusive sexual-health education, and advocate for equitable healthcare.
World AIDS Day invites us all to recognise our shared humanity. By reading, listening, connecting and reflecting, we honour the past while helping shape a more just and compassionate future.
If you need support or someone to talk to about HIV, AIDs or any other topic, you can always make contact with us, we’re here to listen, and to provide guidance, resources or advice: Contact | Get in Touch Today — SupportU