Fast-tracking the end of the AIDS epidemic by 2030 requires strong political leadership and commitment to stop new infections and deaths among young women and adolescent girls and eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV. This requires building on, and extending Africa’s commitments on sexual and reproductive health and rights, expanding ministerial commitments on comprehensive sexuality education and stopping early marriage, adolescent pregnancy and expanding treatment service coverage.

The technical and programmatic solutions are within our reach. An effective and sustainable HIV response must call for scaling up poverty reduction and social protection programmes that keep girls in school and reduce vulnerability to HIV; community programs that engage men and boys and eliminate intimate partner and advance gender equality; ensuring that young women and girls can access good-quality youth friendly, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services that respond to their specific needs.