World AIDS Day is on 1 December each year. It’s a time for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and remember all those we’ve lost to AIDS-related illnesses.

National AIDS Trust is committed to stopping new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030. But we must also secure the rights of people living with HIV. Over 105,000 people are living with HIV in the UK.

Living with HIV can bring with it significant discrimination and stigma. This impacts on poverty, mental health and wellbeing and can lead to people living with HIV feeling isolated.

Together, with the help of generous supporters like you, we’ve already had significant success which has transformed the UK’s response to HIV. For example:

1) PrEP, the HIV prevention pill is available free on the NHS.

2) Opt-out testing is now taking place in some hospital emergency departments which is proving highly successful in diagnosing new HIV cases.

3)HIV is recognised as a disability, giving people a host of legal protections.

4)Pre-employment questionnaires were made illegal – so employers can’t decide whether to offer a job based on HIV status.

5) More new mothers can access free formula milk to avoid HIV transmission.