In the wake of World AIDS Day, we reflect on the recent AIDS conference, which convened over 11,000 researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, funders, and civil society representatives united in the fight against HIV and AIDS. IPPF participated with a delegation comprising representatives from its Member Associations and staff, collectively representing 16 countries.  This conference, the largest global gathering on HIV & AIDS, offered a crucial opportunity to explore the latest scientific developments, particularly in bio-medical prevention tools such as the long-acting PrEP injectable and dual prevention pills. Beyond science, the event also provided a platform to examine the wider political and social contexts that continue to impact the global fight against the pandemic.    A grim reality: the numbers speak  Despite decades of progress, the goal of ending HIV by 2030 remains challenging, as underscored by a few sobering statistics:  Someone dies from AIDS-related illnesses every minute  In 2023 alone, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses  There are still 1.3 million new cases of HIV annually  The fastest-growing rates of HIV are in the MENA region, Latin America, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe  The country with the highest rate of new cases worldwide is Eswatini  These figures serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing impact of HIV on global populations.