World AIDS Day

Every year on 1 December, UNESCO stands together with UNAIDS, co-sponsors and other partners for World AIDS Day.

While considerable progress has been made towards ending AIDS as a public health threat, the HIV epidemic is not over and young people remain disproportionately at risk. In 2020 alone, 410,000 young people between the ages of 10 to 24 were newly infected with HIV, of whom 150,000 were adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19. Moreover, comprehensive knowledge of HIV among young people remains far too low, with only one in three demonstrating accurate knowledge.

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is essential for young people to be able to protect themselves from HIV. It also helps young people avoid unintended pregnancy and other sexually transmitted infections, encourages them to seek out health-related information and services, promotes values of tolerance, mutual respect and non-violence in relationships, and supports a safe transition into adulthood.

UNESCO’s work on education and HIV, in particular its strategic priorities of increasing access to quality comprehensive sexuality education and making education safe and inclusive, is a key part of the global AIDS response. UNESCO supports national education authorities and partners to strengthen their existing curricula and adapt content and approaches to their local context.