Forty years since the first cases were identified, AIDS remains an urgent global crisis. Stigma, discrimination and underlying inequalities continue to fuel the HIV epidemic, marginalize and criminalize communities, and restrict access to health, education and other essential services. This side event to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, organized in collaboration with UNAIDS, will address the following questions:

• What are the core goals of the new Global AIDS Strategy and how can parliaments contribute to their achievement and ensure adequate investment in HIV and health?
• How are inequalities driving the HIV epidemic? What is the impact of law on the HIV response and how can legislation support the commitments emerging from the High-Level Meeting to end AIDS by 2030?
• What lessons can be drawn from the colliding HIV epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic and how can parliaments ensure that COVID-19 response and recovery plans support the HIV response?

The event will take place virtually and will be open to all interested parliamentarians and parliamentary staff as well as other stakeholders involved in the HIV response. The working languages will be English, French and Spanish (simultaneous interpretation).