Winnie Byanyima To Head UNAIDS

Ugandan Winnie Byanyima is set to take the helm at UNAIDS, where she will take over from Malian Michel Sidibé who stepped down in May. Since 2013 she has been serving as the Executive Director of Oxfam International, but started out 30 years ago as a member of parliament in Uganda championing the rights of women and marginalised communities.

Speaking on her appointment, Ms Byanyima is quoted as stating, “I am honoured to be joining UNAIDS as the Executive Director at such a critical time in the response to HIV.

“The end of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is a goal that is within the world’s reach, but I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead. Working with all its partners, UNAIDS must continue to speak up for the people left behind and champion human rights as the only way to end the epidemic.” 

In a statement released by UNAIDS welcoming announcing Ms Byanyima the organization writes, “Ms Byanyima brings a wealth of experience and commitment in harnessing the power of governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector and civil society to end the AIDS epidemic around the world. Ms Byanyima has been the Executive Director of Oxfam International since 2013. Prior to that, she served for seven years as the Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Programme.”

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.