New York City Bar African Affairs Committee Presents Lives at Risk: the Human Rights Consequences of U.S. HIV/AIDS Aid Cuts in Sub-Saharan Africa

In January 2025, Executive Order 14169 suspended all U.S. foreign aid, prompting alarm across the global health and human rights communities. A United Nations report estimates the cuts have contributed to over 350,000 deaths worldwide—more than half of them children—and placed more than 32 million people at risk of losing access to essential health services. South Africa, home to over 8 million people living with HIV/AIDS, has been among the most severely affected.

Our panel of experts will speak to the humanitarian and legal consequences of the aid suspension, with a focus on South Africa. The discussion will address the disruption of health systems, the impact on vulnerable and marginalized populations, and the legal implications—including potential violations of the rights to health, life, and non-discrimination. Panelists will also explore available legal and policy mechanisms to pursue accountability and advocate for the restoration of equitable access to care.