UNGA 2025: The Fight for Health Justice in an Age of Retreat

September 25, 2025 - New York City

Each September, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convenes in New York City, bringing together governments, policymakers, advocates, and more for official UN meetings as well as side events on issues of global importance. 

This year, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) co-hosted a side event, “Access to Medicines: The Fight for Health Justice in an Age of Retreat,” alongside Public Citizen, UNAIDS, and other health advocacy groups to chart a path forward for advancing global access to medicines. 

Despite deadly funding cuts, corporate profiteering, and political retreat that put hard-won gains in access to essential health innovation at risk, it has been proven that progress is possible when lives are valued over profits. Around the world, governments are building local production and increasing domestic health investment, multilateral initiatives are expanding pooled procurement and financing, and civil society is breaking drug monopolies. Just one day before the event, it was announced that lenacapavir, a breakthrough HIV prevention drug, will be made available by 2027 to 120 low- and middle-income countries at $40 per year. 

During the event, speakers underscored the importance of continuing to push for progress, and what is at risk if we retreat. From ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access lenacapavir, to advancing licensing and technology transfer frameworks that break patent barriers to generic medicines, the discussion highlighted the strength of access to medicines advocates in the fight for health justice. 

Hosted by:
Public Citizen, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, UNAIDS, Treatment Action Group, RESULTS, People’s Medicines Alliance, Partners in Health, Health GAP

Speakers:

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS

Tenu Avafia, Deputy Executive Director, UNITAID

Peter Maybarduk, Access to Medicines Director, Public Citizen

Emily Bass, Advocate and Author, To End a Plague: America’s Fight to Defeat AIDS in Africa

Mitchell Warren, Executive Director, AVAC

Amanda Banda, Global Health Advocate, COMPASS Africa

Asia Russell, Executive Director, Health GAP

Isata Dumbuya, Director of Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health, Partners In Health, Sierra Leone