PHNOM PENH, 12 JUNE — Cambodia has achieved the global 95–95–95 HIV targets, becoming the first country in Asia and the Pacific to reach this historic milestone.
The announcement jointly made by the Royal Government of Cambodia and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS [UNAIDS] marks a major step in Cambodia’s progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It also comes as 2026 marks 30 years of Joint United Nations Programme support to Cambodia’s HIV response — three decades of partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, communities, civil society, development partners and people living with and affected by HIV.
The 95–95–95 targets mean that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of people who know their HIV-positive status are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of people on treatment have achieved viral suppression.
It is worth noting that Cambodia was one of the only seven countries globally to achieve 90-90-90 targets in 2017, three years ahead of the deadline.
“This milestone shows what is possible when people come first,” said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “Cambodia’s success is built on strong political commitment, national leadership, long-term partnership, and the trust built through years of work with communities and the United Nations system.”
The country’s multisectoral and health sector HIV response is focused on services that are innovative, practical, trusted and accessible to those who need them when they need them. This has included expanded access to HIV testing and treatment, multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines, integration between HIV services and the wider health system, and increased availability of innovative prevention options such as long-acting PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis, pills and injections to prevent HIV] and HIV self-testing.
Community-led services have helped turn this approach into results. Peer-led counselling, testing, adherence support and prevention services have reached people most affected by HIV, including key populations, and strengthened trust in services. Cambodia has also supported people living with HIV and key populations through social protection and free access to health care.
Cambodia is working on a sustainability plan in light of the reduction of external funding to build a more sustainable national HIV response. This will happen through stronger domestic financing, full integration with primary health care and universal health coverage, and the continued involvement of communities, people living with HIV and key populations in decision-making and service delivery.
Cambodia’s achievement comes at an important moment for the global HIV response, as countries prepare for the 2026 High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS which will take place on 22–23 June 2026 in New York, United States. It shows that progress is possible when political commitment, reliable financing, innovation, effective services and community leadership come together.
Although Cambodia is on a path to elimination of new HIV infections, the HIV epidemic is not over. New HIV infections continue, with estimated 958 in 2025, of whom 84% among key populations and their partners. Elimination of new HIV infection with the target of fewer than 250 cases a year by 2030 is the core national target, but achieving it will require comprehensive and sustained strategic efforts. Stigma, discrimination and other barriers still prevent some people from getting the services they need. Low knowledge about HIV and its prevention increases vulnerability to transmission of HIV and STIs, especially among youth. Continued investment in the HIV response, including community-led services, will be essential to protect Cambodia’s progress, close the remaining gaps and ensure that no one is left behind. To meet these challenges, Cambodia is in the process of shifting the paradigm from temporary and donor-led projects to a sustainable system led and managed by the Royal Government of Cambodia.
“This achievement is a source of national pride, but it also comes with responsibility,” said Excellency Ieng Mouly, Senior Minister and Chair of National AIDS Authority. “Our task now is to make sure that progress is protected and sustained with stronger country ownership via increased domestic investment for national HIV response.
“This remarkable achievement is historic milestone for Cambodia’s HIV response; however, our mission remains to reach the last miles and to sustain the gain,” congratulations and appreciation expressed by Excellency Prof. Chheang Ra, Minister of Health. “We need to strengthen and expand HIV services with innovation and tailor to the needs of the communities to ensure services remain within reach, and every person can seek HIV prevention, testing and treatment with dignity and without discrimination, and at the same time, integrate these services into a resilient health system.”
This press release was originally published June 12, 2026, by the United Nations–Cambodia.
