What’s Next for the STI Response?

The global community will gather next week in Montreal, Canada, for the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress, which comes at a pivotal moment as global STI rates are rising, but investment in prevention, diagnostics and care remain far below what’s needed. The meeting also follows last week’s International AIDS Society 2025 conference where advocates and researchers joined in unifying calls to confront the collapse of US support for the HIV response and to reimagine funding, research, and delivery systems that can sustain progress toward ending the epidemic. 

See AVAC’s resources tracking the impacts and consequences of actions to dismantle foreign aid.

In a powerful session at IAS 2025 on the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health, AVAC’s Mitchell Warren shared a clear call to action and principles for the way forward. “We have to collaborate differently. And sustainability cannot just mean budgets; we have to sustain the impact.” 

At the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress, AVAC will be tracking and urging conversations that address the future of the STI response in a changing funding landscape. Advances in biomedical and behavioral sciences and digital technologies have transformed how people access care, seek information, and navigate relationships, but these innovations must be matched by political will, sustained investment, and integrated, community-led strategies.  

Read on for key sessions AVAC is tracking. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can follow along with AVAC’s real-time coverage (Bluesky and Instagram) and access AVAC’s resources on all things STI at www.STIWatch.org. And stay tuned for a post-conference summary and webinar. 

Featured AVAC Plenary

The Future of STIs in the Changing Global Health and Funding Landscape

AVAC’s Alison Footman will take the main stage for a plenary presentation in the session, The Future of STIs in the Changing Global Health and Funding Landscape. Footman will spotlight the STI advocacy movement in Africa and lessons from AVAC’s work supporting research literacy and civil society engagement across Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. She’ll also speak to how STI advocates can mobilize in the face of waning political attention and push for integrated, community-centered responses. 

Roadmap

AVAC’s STI & HIV 2025 World Congress Roadmap

AVAC is tracking key sessions, on STI vaccines, diagnostics, and antimicrobial resistance; community-led models and innovative approaches to integrated research and care; and opportunities to elevate STI advocacy in broader global health efforts. 

Recent STIWatch Resources for Advocates

• WATCH: Protecting Your Health – The Importance of STI and HIV Testing in the Modern Era
  In this conversation, healthcare providers and community voices came together to discuss the importance of regular STI and HIV testing, explore the range of testing options, and share strategies for advocating for access in high-impact communities. 
• READ: Self-Care Advocacy for HIV and STI Prevention
  By putting testing, prevention, and treatment directly into people’s hands, self-care can help communities maintain vital health services despite reduced funding, limited access to healthcare, and diminished government support. Read the new guide. 
• READ: Why STI Funding Matters
  This Issue Brief describes the impacts of the elimination and reduction of funding that supports sexually transmitted infection (STI) research, testing, and prevention programming. This funding is critically important as STI rates continue to increase globally with more than 1 million curable STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, acquired every day.