December 1st of each year marks World AIDS Day, an international occasion recognized by the United Nations, aimed at raising awareness, promoting prevention, and supporting people living with HIV.
In Syria, this occasion comes at a time when the country is undergoing a comprehensive reconstruction phase, requiring the integration of public health into the national development process and the concept of citizenship.
Therefore, we in the Syrian Future Movement see World AIDS Day as an opportunity to emphasize that prevention, treatment, and the rights of citizens living with HIV are fundamental components of the just and civil state we aspire to.
The Syrian Future Movement reminds us of the statistics regarding those living with HIV, which necessitate raising awareness:
1- Globally
Approximately 40.8 million people worldwide were living with HIV by the end of 2024.
Around 1.3 million new infections were recorded in 2024, while approximately 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
2- The Situation in Syria
From the first registration in 1987 until 2022, the number of detected cases reached approximately 1,141.
Of these, 326 patients received treatment within the AIDS control program.
Estimates from the Regional Health Organization indicate that Syria falls within the countries with low prevalence rates, with an estimated number of people living with HIV at approximately 840. We believe this is due to a lack of attention and accurate statistics because of the revolution that Syria has been experiencing since 2011. Furthermore, official figures in Syria may underestimate the true extent of the problem due to the difficulty of accessing some areas and the fact that not all cases are included in the statistics.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the following:
Prevention and Comprehensive Testing:
Free, confidential, and safe testing programs must be provided to all citizens, along with enhanced awareness about HIV transmission methods and prevention strategies.
Empowering People Living with HIV and Protecting Their Rights:
We affirm that the disease is not a cause for stigma or discrimination. Every person living with HIV has the right to treatment, a dignified life, education, and employment without discrimination.
Linking Public Health to State Reform:
Public health is an integral part of the national structure of a civil state. Reforming the health system, supporting prevention programs, and enhancing diagnostic capacity are national necessities to ensure the sustainability of efforts to combat AIDS.
The Role of Civil Society and Youth:
We believe that NGOs, youth activists, and the education sector have a pivotal role in raising awareness, supporting patients, and monitoring the implementation of national programs.
Transparency and Accountability:
We call on health authorities and official bodies to publish data regularly and accurately to ensure the state’s ability to effectively plan prevention and treatment, and to guarantee the protection of the rights of all citizens.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on the Ministry of Health and relevant official bodies to strengthen testing and prevention programs and provide treatment for all people living with HIV. It also calls on civil society and international organizations to support public health and provide resources and technical expertise.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the role of media and intellectuals in disseminating a culture of awareness, solidarity, and combating social stigma. The Syrian Future Movement also calls on every citizen to actively participate in raising awareness, commit to prevention, and disseminate knowledge responsibly.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that HIV/AIDS remains a global health challenge, but in Syria it can be confronted through awareness, solidarity, and institutional reform. We see World AIDS Day, December 1, 2025, as a call to transform prevention and treatment into national rights, ensuring the protection of citizens living with HIV, and building a healthy, inclusive, and just society.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms its commitment to defending public health, human dignity, and the right of every Syrian to live in peace and security, as part of a national vision for building a sustainable and just Syria.
