HIV and AIDS

Challenges

Six million persons in Asia and the Pacific are living with HIV and AIDS. High prevalence rates continue to be found among key affected populations, including sex workers, injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. At the same time, in many settings, HIV and AIDS are being mainstreamed into the more general population. Most countries in the region have been unable to reduce the prevalence of HIV and AIDS, and in others, the incidence is increasing. Significant challenges to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS include lack of awareness and barriers to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Further challenges relate to enacting, strengthening and enforcing legislation, regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS and other key affected populations. The region has to find ways to develop, implement and monitor policies, programmes and strategies to combat stigma and exclusion connected with the epidemic.

Our response

ESCAP, in close coordination with UNAIDS, WHO and other relevant stakeholders, supports countries in Asia and the Pacific in the implementation of the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and in reaching the Millennium Development Goal target of ensuring universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support. This is done by promoting regional cooperation among countries of Asia and the Pacific and through partnerships with people living with HIV and AIDS, civil society and faith-based and private-sector groups. ESCAP members States recently adopted a landmark resolution on the above issues and in mid-2010 a high-level intergovernmental meeting will be convened to review progress accomplished . ESCAP also provides technical support to Governments and other stakeholders by:

• Carrying out analysis on key aspects of the epidemic, with particular reference to multi-sectoral approaches.
• Advocating for more supportive policies and programmes, including legislations that address stigma and discrimination.
• Issuing pioneering studies, such as on the role of older persons and HIV and AIDS, with an emphasis on family support.

ESCAP, with members of the Asia-Pacific Regional Thematic Working Group on Health as well as other partners, also works to integrate HIV and AIDS issues into the wider development agenda to maximize the impact of policies and interventions.

New Resolutions

• Resolution 67/9: Asia-Pacific regional review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS
• Resolution 66/10: Regional call for action to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in Asia and the Pacific

New Events

• Asia-Pacific High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Assessment of Progress Against Commitments in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Bangkok (1-3 November 2011) - Due to the flood situation, the meeting has been postponed to 6 to 8 February 2012

Recent Events

• Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support, Bangkok (30-31 March 2011)
• Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Bangkok (16-17 February 2011)
• Regional Consultation on Compulsory Centres for Drug Users (CCDUs) in Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok (14-16 December 2010)