WCC NEWS: WCC shares prayers for World AIDS Day

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will hold special prayers and participate in events commemorating World AIDS Day 2025, to be observed on 1 December under the theme “Overcoming Disruption: Transforming the AIDS Response.” On 1 December 2022, Gathering for a World AIDS Day prayer in the Ecumenicla Center in Geneva, the World Council of Churches (WCC) reflected on the latest UNAIDS report, and prayed that churches will renew their commitment to become agents of life for those suffering from HIV and AIDS. Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC 28 November 2025 In the context of Advent as well as the 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence, the prayer series is available to all.  The WCC will also be part of a panel jointly organized by UNAIDS, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Fund to end AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This World AIDS Day comes at a moment of profound disruption and uncertainty for the global HIV response. The combination of a deepening funding crisis, growing geopolitical fragmentation, and questions around the future of global HIV coordination has created the most challenging landscape in more than a decade.  In 2024 alone, 1.3 million people newly acquired HIV, including 570 adolescent girls and young women each day. Abrupt reductions in global HIV funding in 2025, part of a projected 30–40% drop in external health aid compared to 2023, have intensified existing shortfalls, disrupting essential services across low- and middle-income countries. More than 60% of women-led HIV organisations have already lost funding or suspended vital programmes. Yet there are signs of resilience: many countries have acted quickly to fill funding gaps, and monthly UNAIDS data show that the number of people newly initiated on treatment remained relatively stable through the first half of 2025 despite the cuts. Strengthening global solidarity and sustained support remain essential to protect progress and ensure that communities do not face these challenges alone. World AIDS Day is a moment to pray and mobilise communities to encourage all who work for healing: community volunteers, nurses, researchers, counsellors, pastors, and advocates. The special day also aims to strengthen global solidarity so that no country, community, or person faces these challenges alone. The WCC prayers and World AIDS Day also strive to empower women’s leadership, protect girls’ futures, and restore the resources needed to safeguard their health, dignity, and agency. The day also is a time to advocate for leaders, partners, and funders to renew investments to strengthen services and action with urgency, solidarity, and justice, to get back on track to achieve global targets by 2030. While some seem to try to forget HIV, faith communities worldwide reaffirm their commitment to end the HIV epidemic, demonstrating tangible solidarity for all people living with HIV and all most affected. Download the order of prayer available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland