Nigerian civil society organisations have condemned the proposal under the UN80 Initiative to “sunset UNAIDS by the end of 2026,” warning that dismantling the global agency would undermine the fight against HIV and endanger millions of lives.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, the Coalition of Community Networks and Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria described the move as “ill-timed, dangerously shortsighted, and a betrayal of communities living with and affected by HIV.”
The coalition said the proposal signals a profound departure from the UN’s longstanding commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
While acknowledging progress in reducing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths over the past decades, the groups emphasised that the epidemic is far from over.
They argued that dismantling UNAIDS at this critical time would risk reversing hard-won gains, weaken donor confidence, including from global partners like PEPFAR and the Global Fund, and send a chilling message to communities still grappling with the epidemic.
The coalition stressed that UNAIDS is unique within the UN system because it places communities and civil society at the centre of its governance and mandate.
“To contemplate dismantling UNAIDS is to betray the very people it was created to serve, especially women, young people, and key populations who rely on its leadership, advocacy, and convening power,” the statement read.
They further warned that removing this essential pillar of the global AIDS response would not only cost lives but also fragment partnerships between civil society, governments, and international donors that have been crucial in sustaining progress.
Raising a series of unanswered questions, the coalition asked: Who will assume leadership in coordinating the global HIV response?
Has the UN abandoned its commitment to end AIDS by 2030? And won’t the proposal further delay progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving communities questioning the UN’s credibility?
Calling the plan a setback for global solidarity, the coalition urged the UN Secretary-General and Member States to take decisive steps to halt the proposal and reaffirm UNAIDS’ central role.
They demanded that the UN instead strengthen the agency’s mandate and core functions while protecting the integrity of the reform process.
“We reject any attempt to use the UN80 reform agenda as a vehicle to dismantle the HIV response,” the coalition declared.
They stressed that reform of the UN system is important, but it must not come at the expense of undermining decades of collective efforts to combat HIV.
The coalition appeals for urgent intervention, noting that the uncertainty created by the proposal has already unsettled stakeholders, particularly communities, civil society organisations, and donors.
The coalition reaffirmed its readiness to engage constructively with the UN and member states to safeguard UNAIDS’ legacy and ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against HIV.
Signatories to the statement include the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Nigeria Key Population Health and Rights Network (NKPHRN), and the International Community of Women Living with HIV – West Africa (ICW-WA).
Also included were the Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), the Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (APYIN), and the Civil Society Network for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN).