Conference on 'HIV/AIDS in Burma'

[Guest guest]

CONFERENCE PROPOSAL 'HIV/AIDS IN BURMA'

INTRODUCTION

A major concern in Burma in the last few years is the rapid spreading

of HIV/AIDS. It is clear that the infection rate in Burma qualifies as a

widespread generalised epidemic of HIV, with international estimates

of hundreds of thousands victims.

Burma faces a most unfortunate set of factors that increases the

magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic: drugs use, large sex-industry and

trafficking of women, large population mobility due to migrant labour, forced

relocations and civil war. Other causes of the current epidemic are the failing

health system and the lack of large-scale education campaigns on this issue.

The military junta's original response went from complete denial to

beginning to admit that there is an HIV/AIDS problem.

A Burma Center Netherlands (BCN) mission to India, Thailand and Burma

(November-December, 2001), assessed the needs of Burmese civil society

organisations in Burma and Thailand. One of the conclusions was that,

in relation to health and HIV/AIDS, information flows between health and

relief organisations, and organisations specifically offering HIV/AIDS

programmes could be promoted and enhanced. Many of the people interviewed during

the mission welcomed the suggestion of organising a conference to start

addressing this.

In December 1997 BCN organised a conference on 'Strengthening Civil

Society in Burma - possibilities and dilemmas for international NGOs'.

Participants came from INGOs working inside Burma, working cross-border or

working with Burmese communities in Burma's neighbouring countries. Our

experience is that as a non-stakeholder, meaning BCN neither being a funding

agency nor a development agency, we are well situated to organise such a

conference.

On this matter we like to invite you to share your organisational and

personal opinions, views, policies and particularly practical and

motivating perspectives during a 2-day conference.

THE CONFERENCE

The conference will be held October 2002, in Bangkok (Thailand). This

will enable participants from inside Burma as well as people working in the

border area, to participate. The conference will be a 2-day activity, during

which the participants exchange their experiences in relation to their HIV/AIDS

programmes and activities. The sessions are closed for public and journalists.

The atmosphere should be open and participants should feel free to speak

openly.

CONFERENCE GOALS

By providing a platform for organisations working on HIV/AIDS in

Burma where they can exchange views, the conference wants to:

- Assess the HIV/AIDS situation in Burma and among Burmese

refugee communities;

- Assess HIV/AIDS programmes being carried out by INGOs, UN

agencies and Burmese organisations in terms of programme activities and

effects;

- Strengthen the capacity of such organisations to deal with the

HIV/AIDS epidemic;

- Contribute to an improvement of the effects of health

programmes in general.

TARGET GROUPS

- Burmese organisations, INGOs and UN agencies with programmes

and activities on HIV/AIDS in Burma.

INPUT, OUTPUT AND FOLLOW UP

- A BCN staff will collect information about the different

HIV/AIDS related activities beforehand and synthesise this into a

(pre)conference paper;

- The inputs during the conference will be published into a

conference report. Depending on sensitivity of the inputs and/or upon the

request of participating organisations part or all of the inputs will be kept

internal;

- Any other follow-up activity proposed by the conference

participants, like a lobby paper on HIV/AIDS towards governments.

THE CONFERENCE AGENDA

(for now)

Date: week 42: 17 - 18 October, 2002

Place: Royal Benja Hotel

Sukhumvit Soi 5

Bangkok 10110

Day 1 17 October, 2002.

1. Opening and welcome 10.00 - 10.15

2. Introduction meeting participants

10.15 -

11.00

3. HIV/AIDS in Burma: present situation

11.00 -

11.30

4. Exchange of programmes

11.30 -

12.30

- organisational background

- history of HIV/AIDS programmes

- development in HIV/AIDS programmes

- present HIV/AIDS programmes:

.. target group(s)

.. objective(s)

.. contents

.. materials

.. expected effects

.. relation to health, relief or other programmes

.. co-operation with other organisations.

Lunch

12.30 -

14.00

5. Exchange of programmes (continuation)

14.00 -

15.30

6. Conclusions of day 1

15.30 - 16.00

Day 2 18 October, 2002.

1. Exchange of opinions concerning the programmes

10.00 - 11.30

2. Exchange of further perspectives

11.30 - 12.30

. expected developments

. short term perspectives

. long term perspectives

. relation to civil society developments

lunch

12.30 - 14.00

3. Final standpoints

14.00 - 15.00

4. Conference's conclusions

15.00 - 15.30

5. Closing

15.30 - 16.00

_______________________________

Yours sincerely,

Harry van Velsen, BCN health desk

Ras, BCN coordinator.

Burma Centrum Nederland (BCN)

us Potterstraat 20

1071 DA Amsterdam

The Netherlands

tel: 31-20-671 6952

fax: 31-20-671 3513

e-mail: bcn@...

url: www.burmacentrum.nl

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