Money is being withdrawn just as political attacks make community-led services harder to deliver and people harder to reach. Fairoze Diedricks of Y+ Global (Global Network of Young People living with HIV) described the emotional weight of watching hard-won gains unravel. Youth advocates continue working to keep politicians informed and to dismantle remaining human rights and gender barriers. Gender equality is one of the strongest HIV prevention strategies. We cannot end AIDS without gender equality, bodily autonomy and the leadership of women in all their diversity.