Today, on International AIDS Day, together with our colleagues from the EECA region and together with the whole world, we call on everyone to join forces for the fight! Fight for equality and fight against the HIV epidemic.
The theme of this day in 2022 is "Time for Equality!" And this isn't just a slogan for this year, it's a call to action.
Our region has suffered significantly over the past couple of years: the COVID-19 epidemic, the full-scale war in Ukraine, an emigration wave within the region. All of this sets back our efforts to control HIV and further distracts us from the fight against inequality.
In 2021 alone, 1.5 million new HIV cases were registered in the world, which exceeded the target values set by the world community by more than 3 times. And in our EECA region, 22% of all new recorded HIV cases were among gay men and other MSM.
On our website you can learn more about the situation regarding the HIV epidemic among MSM and trans* people in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Click the links to find the most recent data, which we have updated specially for World AIDS Day.
We call on all of our partners, ECOM members and donors to keep up the intensive work which will help us eliminate inequality and eradicate AIDS:
“In most regions of the world, including ours, HIV responses don't meet the needs of gays, other MSM and trans* people. Only a few members of the LGBT community can benefit from such essential and effective HIV prevention measures as PrEP. Also, there are still difficulties with access to HIV treatment — antiretroviral therapy.
Unfortunately, we still have to deal with widespread public and state homo- and transphobia, as well as the infringement of our basic rights and freedoms. So today, on this World AIDS Day, which is celebrated under the slogan “Equalize! Ensure equality!”, we call for an end to the inequality that deprives our communities of their dignity and right to live free and healthy lives,” says Vitaly Djuma, Executive Director of ECOM.
ECOM admires the work of our partners who work day after day in their cities and countries to provide HIV prevention and treatment services. But to make it all work, a lot of advocacy work is also required. That is why ECOM collects strategic information, conducts legal literacy training, works towards including trans* people in national HIV prevention programs and advocates for access to health services at the UN level.
It's unlikely that the day will come when humanity has no problems, and we can focus only on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But the time for equality and fight is now. And together we will succeed.
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