Global HIV Stigma Day Highlights Ongoing Discrimination, Calls for Empathy

Zero HIV Stigma Day 2025 emphasizes the urgent need to challenge and eliminate the stigma faced by millions living with HIV, particularly in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, where discrimination persists in healthcare, workplaces, schools, and homes. Initiatives like AFEW International’s “See What Matters” campaign and Zambia’s “Pink Girls” support groups empower people living with HIV by fostering empathy, confidence, and community-led action to overcome stigma and promote dignity. However, challenges remain as seen in South Africa, where funding cuts and leadership inaction amid PEPFAR withdrawal have led to declines in HIV testing and treatment initiation, raising concerns about increasing mortality and preventable infections. The ongoing fight against HIV stigma also draws on historical community care models, such as the vital support lesbians provided during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, highlighting the importance of hospitality, care, and inclusion. This collective response underscores that ending HIV stigma is about justice, inclusion, and ensuring all people receive equitable care and opportunities regardless of their HIV status.