EATG Statement: America First, Global Health Last! What Does Trump’s Agenda Mean for Global Health and the HIV/AIDS Response?
30 January 2025
Brussels, January 30, 2025
In support of communities, civil society organisations, international and regional organisations and individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally, the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) and its members echo that the US administration should in all cases uphold the rights, dignity and freedom of vulnerable populations including migrants, transgender people, people living with HIV and those belonging to key populations.
These past few days, the new US administration signed a series of Executive Orders that have a considerable impact on global health policies and the HIV/AIDS response. Prominently:
- The freezing of all US foreign aid funding for 90 days, directly affecting programmes like PEPFAR
- The withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO)
- The reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, fundamentally affecting sexual and reproductive health rights, and
- The dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) provisions, that affect clinical research.
Collectively, these executive actions have introduced significant uncertainties in global health initiatives. This policy shift in the USA sets the scene for the rest of the world, as well as highlights shortcomings in the uptake of initiatives and funding from other countries. Specifically, the EU and European bilateral funding for HIV aid has been diminishing – with exceptions like the Global Fund, French Expertise, and German GIZ funding. EATG, even more now, reiterates the need for the EU and European countries to upscale their contributions to and support for the global HIV/AIDS response.
In addition, the US funding freeze will have devastating effects on Ukraine which has the second largest HIV epidemic among WHO Europe countries. It is our view that in the present circumstances the EU needs to come forward regarding solutions to meet the situation in Ukraine, not least if some aspects of PEPFAR funding remain outside the Emergency Humanitarian Waiver of 29th January 2025. The EU and countries in Europe and Central Asia are called for to provide the necessary support to cover these imminent gaps.
Access the full statement here. Download the full statement below: EATG Statement: America First, Global Health Last! What does Trump’s agenda mean for global health and the HIV/AIDS response?
FURTHER READING
- HIV i-Base: Impact of U.S. Elections and Executive Orders on Global Health: Waiver Covers PEPFAR With Restrictions
- UNAIDS: Impact of Recent U.S. Shifts on the Global HIV Response
