“Ending AIDS is impossible if we do not prioritize children.”

The UNAIDS Global Report, “The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads” released today, says “ending AIDS as a public health threat is achievable by 2030 but that success is being threatened by pushes to reduce funding and to restrict human rights.”

Challenges faced by children living with HIV are among the most significant threats to progress. “The report clearly shows that truly ending AIDS is impossible if we do not prioritize children,” said Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) President and CEO Charles “Chip” Lyons.

“We must end the growing inequities between adults and children,” Lyons said. “Year after year, I have watched outcomes for adults move closer to achieving UNAIDS targets while progress for children fails to advance at the same rate. If we fail to close these disparities by 2030, more children will continue to die, and any hard-won progress in the fight for an AIDS-free generation may be lost forever.”

The UNAIDS report was released at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Germany, attended by thousands of scientists, policymakers and activists. This year’s conference theme is “Put People First.”

“Children are the age group least likely to receive HIV treatment,” Lyons said. “But, in too many cases, they are an afterthought in policy, strategy and funding. We should be putting children first in the HIV response.”

“Leaders must prioritize investments in children living with HIV.  This report shows proof of the transformative impact of decades of financial and political investments in sub-Saharan Africa. Global leaders should redouble their commitments to ensure everyone benefits from this progress, including more than one million children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We must act immediately and with unapologetic tenacity to end AIDS,” Lyons added.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Chip Lyons is attending the weeklong AIDS conference in Munich and is available for interviews.