This year, we mark World AIDS Day with new hope. I applaudthe staunch advocacy of activists¹. I commend the persistentefforts of health workers. And I pay tribute to the principledstance of human rights defenders² and the courage of all thosewho have joined forces to fight for global progress against thedisease.

World leaders have unanimously committed to ending the AIDS epidemic³ by 2030 as part of theSustainable Development Goals adopted in September. This commitment reflects the power ofsolidarity to forge, from a destructive disease, one of the most inclusive movements in modernhistory.

We have a lot to learn from the AIDS response. One by one people stood up for science, humanrights and the empowerment of all those living with HIV. And this is how we will end the epidemic:by moving forward together.

The window of opportunity to act is closing. That is why I am calling for a Fast-Track approach tofront-load investments and close the gap between needs and services.

To break the epidemic and prevent it from rebounding⁴, we must act on all fronts. We need tomore than double the number of people on life-changing treatment to reach all 37 million of thoseliving with HIV. We need to provide adolescent girls and young women with access to educationand real options to protect themselves from HIV. And we need to provide key populations with fullaccess to services delivered with dignity and respect.

Every child can be born free from HIV to mothers who not only survive but thrive. Ending AIDS isessential to the success of Every Woman Every Child and the Global Strategy I launched toensure the health and well-being⁵ of women, children and adolescents within a generation.

Reaching the Fast-Track Targets will prevent new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths whileeliminating HIV-related stigma⁶ and discrimination.

I look forward to the 2016 High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on AIDS as a critical chancefor the world to commit to Fast-Track the end of AIDS.

On this World AIDS Day, let us pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives to this disease byrenewing our resolve to stand for justice, access and greater hope around the world.

Ban Ki-moon