The International Disability Alliance and the World Health Organization are hosting a webinar titled “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities in HIV Care and Treatment” on 26 February 2026, from 11:00 to 12:30 CET. The event aims to address persistent health inequities faced by persons with disabilities, a group that makes up around 16% of the global population, or approximately 1.3 billion people. These inequities are often overlooked in HIV care and treatment, rooted in stigma, exclusion, and structural barriers.
Persons with disabilities are frequently left out of HIV policies, programmes, and data collection systems, despite evidence showing that they may be at higher risk of sexual violence and HIV exposure. Access to prevention, treatment, and care is often limited, creating significant health disparities that remain largely unaddressed.
The webinar will explore these inequities as a global health priority and critically examine gaps in current HIV care models. Participants will learn about effective strategies and approaches for making HIV responses more inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.
The discussion will feature experts from the WHO, representatives from organizations of persons with disabilities, UNFPA, and Member States, providing insights followed by an interactive Q&A session. The webinar seeks to foster dialogue and advance disability-inclusive approaches in HIV care and treatment worldwide.
