From November 23 to 29, 2026
Coalition PLUS and its partners present
The 7th International Testing Week
Placing the fight against gender-based violence at the center of the response to HIV
From November 23 to 29, 2026, the 7th edition of International Testing Week will take place under the theme: “Putting the fight against gender-based violence at the heart of the HIV response”
Launched by Coalition PLUS in 2020, International Testing Week (ITW) is a global campaign led by dozens of HIV advocacy organizations around the world. It brings prevention, testing, and care to those who are most marginalized, while advocating for their health and rights.
In 2026, Coalition PLUS is placing women at the center of the movement, with one priority: integrating the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) into the response to HIV.
A 2026 campaign at the heart of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence:
Held from November 23 to 29, 2026, this seventh edition of the SID is at the heart of the 16 Days of Global Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
This alignment reaffirms that the response to HIV, the defense of women’s rights, and the elimination of GBV are one and the same struggle, because a woman exposed to violence cannot negotiate condom use or freely access a health care center.
- November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- November 29: International Day of Women Human Rights Defenders
- December 1: World AIDS Day
- December 10: Human Rights Day
Key Figures:
- 53% of people living with HIV worldwide are women and girls (UNAIDS, 2025)
- They account for 45% of new infections globally (UNAIDS, 2025)
- This figure rises to 63% in sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 2024)
4,000 adolescent girls and young women (ages 15–24) contract the virus each week worldwide, including 3,300 in sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 2024) - Approximately 220,000 women aged 15 and older died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide in 2025 (UNAIDS, 2026)
- PrEP use remains significantly lower among women than among men.
Approximately 280,000 women worldwide died from cervical cancer in 2024, a cancer that is largely preventable through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening (WHO, 2026). - Women living with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than HIV-negative women (WHO, 2026).
Three Approaches to Integrating the Fight Against Violence
Raising Awareness and Preventing GBV
Provide information on the different forms of violence, consent, rights, and available remedies through brochures, workshops, or public events.
Identify and Guide
Integrate the identification of violence into screening activities, with trained teams, a confidential setting, and appropriate support options
Strengthen partnerships
Develop partnerships with feminist organizations and specialized agencies to facilitate access to both screening and support for victims of violence.
About the international testing week
The world’s largest HIV and STI testing operation returns for its seventh edition.
In just six years, the International Testing Week has become the leading event in community-based testing, with nearly 450,000 tests carried out over six editions.
This unique initiative covers a wide range of diseases: HIV, viral hepatitis B and C, syphilis, infection-related cancers (such as cervical and anal cancer), and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
the results of the 2025 edition
2025 a message of hope and courage for communities vulnerable to HIV
92,193
tests conducted (HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis)
1.4%
of positive HIV tests
1 890
PrEP Initiation
93%
referred for care
Support the movement
Make a donation as an individual
As public funding for the HIV response declines, Coalition PLUS also relies on citizen solidarity to strengthen its impact on testing.
By contributing financially to this initiative, you help sustain a proven model of community health that has shown results since the beginning of the epidemic.
In 2026, being in solidarity is not a sign of weakness — it is a testament to strength and hope for the future.
Get involved as a company
To end AIDS, private sector support is essential. By joining forces with Coalition PLUS for the International Testing Week, companies directly contribute to a global public health campaign recognized for its impact, with nearly 4500,000 tests already conducted since its inception. Corporate philanthropy helps embed this commitment over time and participate in an international effort to reduce new infections.
Taking action today means investing in health for future generations.
All the answers to your questions
on the itw
Why an International Testing Week?
The International Testing Week reminds us that knowing one’s HIV status — positive or negative — is vital for one’s own health and for the health of others.
Whether through health centers, outreach activities, or self-testing, everyone can get tested confidentially and safely, including with the help of trained peers from the most affected communities.
When and where will the 2026 edition of the International Testing Week (ITW) take place?
November 23–29, 2026.
The ceremony will take place in Romania and will be coordinated by ARAS, a long-standing member of Coalition PLUS.
Which countries are participating in the 2025 edition?
A total of 66 partner organizations across 47 countries will take part in the 2025 edition.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Central African Republic, Republic of Mauritius, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rodrigues, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Chad, Togo
North Africa and the Middle East: Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia
North America: Canada
Latin America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala
Asia: India, Malaysia, Timor-Leste
Europe: Belgium, Spain, France, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Ukraine
Which infections are tested?
Testing covers a broad range: HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, infection-related cancers (cervical, anal), and other sexually transmitted infections.
What activities are carried out?
Throughout the week, partner organizations organize:
- Testing sessions
- Distribution of self-tests and self-sampling kits
- Awareness-raising and communication activities
- Training sessions for peer educators and local capacity building
- Advocacy with decision-makers
- Medical care and linkage to treatment
In what ways is community-based screening a proven strategy?
Because they understand the realities and needs of their communities, people from key populations provide a welcoming, non-judgmental, and accessible environment.
This community health approach, championed by Coalition PLUS, complements formal healthcare systems and facilitates access to prevention, testing, and treatment.
What types of testing are used?
ITW favors rapid tests, which provide immediate results and allow testing outside hospital settings.
Which populations are targeted by ITW?
Anyone can get tested during World AIDS Day, but partner organizations prioritize key populations most at risk for HIV and STIs.
As shown by the breakdown of tests among key populations:
- Men who have sex with men (36.7%)
- Sex workers (18.43%)
- Migrants (7.18%)
- Injection drug users (6.59%)
- Non-injection drug users (5.37%)
- Prison populations (4.81%)
In 2025, 1.4% of people tested for HIV received a positive diagnosis.
What happens when a test result is positive?
Partner organizations support each person through confirmatory testing and, if necessary, access to treatment.
In 2025, 93% of people who tested positive for HIV were successfully referred to care.
on the 2026 campaign
Why is protecting women from violence essential to ending the HIV epidemic?
There will be no end to the HIV epidemic without gender equality.
That is why, as an international coalition fighting HIV, Coalition PLUS aims to create an equitable environment where gender-based discrimination is systematically combated, in order to ensure equitable access to health care and rights for all.
Prevention, testing, and care must be accessible under conditions that allow women to make decisions about their health and seek care safely.
Coalition PLUS’s goal is therefore to make World AIDS Day 2026 a platform for raising awareness, detection, protection, and response to gender-based violence.
What forms of violence hinder access to health care?
Control exercised by a partner, economic dependence, or fear of retaliation can prevent a woman from seeking prevention services, getting tested, or continuing her care. These realities must be taken into account in the response to HIV.
How can screening help people access support and guidance?
A meeting with a community team can provide information, allow you to discuss a situation of violence, and connect you with medical, psychological, legal, or social services. This requires trained teams and effective partnerships, while respecting each person’s choices.
Why should women have a say in decisions that affect their health?
The women involved possess expertise that is essential for identifying barriers and adapting services. Their participation must be ensured in all its diversity, particularly that of women facing multiple forms of discrimination.
How does community-based care facilitate access to screening and treatment?
Community organizations understand the realities faced by the people they serve. Their presence on the ground and the relationships of trust they build enable them to reach people who were previously unable to access services. The results of SID 2025 illustrate this ability.
In addition to HIV testing, many organizations participating in World AIDS Day offer screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) and associated conditions such as cervical cancer, which was responsible for nearly
280,000 deaths among women worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO. These deaths could have been prevented with a cancer vaccine that should be offered to all young girls and young men.
How would cooperation with feminist organizations help ensure sustainable support?
Community-based organizations working to combat HIV and groups specializing in gender-based violence bring complementary expertise to the table. Their collaboration makes it possible to better refer individuals, tailor interventions, and strengthen access to rights. World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to strengthen these ties beyond the week of advocacy.
What resources and rights are essential for an effective response?
Training teams, maintaining services, ensuring confidentiality, and organizing referrals requires sustainable resources. The commitment of nonprofit organizations must be supported by predictable funding and public policies that protect people.
