By Bunmi Yekini
Cambodia has strengthened its commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS by signing a new one-year cooperation agreement with UNAIDS and pledging US$100,000 toward the joint response.
Speaking on the contribution, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima praised Cambodia’s leadership and solidarity.
“This contribution shows the importance Cambodia places on UNAIDS, the HIV response, and the multilateral system,” Byanyima said. “Considering the significant cuts the global AIDS response faces, we thank you and we appreciate your solidarity.”
The Southeast Asian nation is already on track to achieve the 95-95-95 targets of the Global AIDS Strategy. Today, 92% of people living with HIV in Cambodia know their status, nearly all of those diagnosed are on treatment, and more than 98% on treatment have suppressed viral loads. Since 2010, new infections in Cambodia have decreased by 45%, a rate of decline that is more than three times faster than the Asia-Pacific regional average.
The commitment was announced during the 56th UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) meeting in Geneva, held June 24–26. Cambodia’s delegation was headed by Ieng Mouly, Senior Minister and Chair of the National Cambodia AIDS Authority, alongside Dara In, Cambodia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.
“This contribution from the Royal Government of Cambodia is not just a financial investment in the global HIV response,” Ieng Mouly said. “This is also a symbol of our belief in UNAIDS, the UN Joint Programme on HIV, and the multilateral system. Financial support to UNAIDS is crucial. We urge other countries to commit and invest in UNAIDS to make ending AIDS a reality.”
Cambodia has been a member of the UNAIDS PCB since 2023 and was recently re-elected for a second term spanning 2026–2028.