Invitation: e_Consultation on Asian AIDS Commission Report

[Guest guest]

Invitation

e_Consultation on Asian AIDS Commission Report: " Redefining AIDS in

Asia – Crafting an effective response " , (2008, June 30th to September

30th)

On behalf of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the

Pacific, AIDS ASIA eFORUM is hosting an e_Consultation on Asian AIDS

Commission Report: " Redefining AIDS in Asia – Crafting an effective

response " .

AIDS_ASIA/

You are invited to take part in this e_Consultation.

An independent Commission on AIDS in Asia was established in June

2006 with support from UNAIDS to review the HIV situation in Asia

from a wide socioeconomic perspective reaching beyond the public

health context. The commission was Chaired by Dr. Chakravarthi

Rangarajan, who is the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to

the Prime Minister of India

Over an 18-month period, through its review and consultations with a

broad range of stakeholders, the Commission has produced a set of

findings and recommendations. The Commission report,

entitled " Redefining AIDS in Asia – Crafting an effective response " ,

was presented to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on

26 March 2008 in New York.

According to the Commission report, to address concentrated epidemics

requires leadership to overcome the social drivers behind the

epidemic. These include structural and social factors, such as

criminalization and marginalization of certain groups, human rights

violations and discrimination. Failing to address these constitutes a

major barrier to an effective national response. Many of the

recommendations of the commission have far reaching implications. For

instance the commission recommends the need for civil society

adopting the NGO code of conduct and a AIDS Watch is being created in

each countries by the civil society.

Broader themes for discussion.

The following broader themes will be presented for discussion. Sub

themes under the broader themes will be developed in consultation

with a selected group " resource persons " .

1) Redefining the epidemic, and why Asia HIV epidemic is unique. The

Report argues that the " standard classification of `low-

level', `concentrated' or `generalised' based on the HIV prevalence

in pregnant women does not capture the actual nature and dynamics of

Asia's epidemics. " The Commission on AIDS in Asia instead proposes

four epidemic scenarios for Asia : latent, expanding, mature, and

declining (pages 53-54, table 2.1; pages 65-70) and links a proposed

package of prevention interventions with the most impact for each

scenario. How can one take this finding forward in your country and

how might one advocate for how government should invest their

resources?

2) Decriminalization. How best can we review, remove or relax

legislation which harass sex workers, drug users, MSM and the service

providers who assist them? What do you think of the suggestion from

page are some lessons learnt from the region?

3) Accountability. How can we promote accountability by government,

donors/international community and the NGOs/community organizations?

Suggest practical AIDS watch mechanisms which can ensure follow-up to

internationally or regionally agreed frameworks for scaling up access

to prevention and treatment?

4) Increasing domestic funding. The Report stated that " as available

resources for funding HIV programmes have increased, the percentage

of total HIV expenditure funded out of national budgets has decreased

in the 14 surveyed countries – from 60 percent in 1996 to 40 percent

in 2004 (page 136). How does one make the case for increasing

domestic resources for AIDS in the Asia region?

5) Country and regional follow up. Discuss follow up country and

regional level needed to take forward the recommendations of the

Commission on AIDS in Asia . Country advocates could share their

plans and describe support needed.

Ideally, each theme will be open for discussion for two weeks.

However, considering the time limitation, one my choose to comment

on any or all of these issues. The moderator may use his discretion

to post the message according to each theme.

A free electronic version of the report is available form the

following url

http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/20080326_report_commission_aids_en.pdf

The consultation will be open from June 30th to September 30th. At

the end of the consultation a detailed report of the out come of the

consultation with the list of participants will be submitted to the

UNAIDS regional office.

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO <joe_thomas123@...> or post

directly on the FORUM by visiting the following url

AIDS_ASIA/

For further details of this consultation please contact the

facilitator of the consultation Dr. Joe by e-mail:

joe_thomas123@... or by Skype <joethomas123>

Thank you for your attention

Joe

AIDS ASIA e FORUM

AIDS_ASIA/