Announcements
[Dear HIV-APCoP network, we are forwarding you the below mail from the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM). APCOM is seeking participation in an online survey as part of an outcome assessment currently being conducted. See details below.]
[APCOM needs your help. Please participate in the online survey, as explained below and attached. As well, please help distribute widely to anyone you feel may be interested to participate. Thank you for your prompt attention! - Paul Causey on behalf of Jason Lee and APCOM]
Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) -- Outcome Assessment
What is APCOM?
APCOM is a regional coalition of MSM and HIV community-based organisations, the government sector, donors, technical experts and the UN system. The main purpose is advocating for political support and increases in investment and coverage of HIV services in Asia Pacific.
Why is the evaluation being conducted?
Hivos, UNDP and UNAIDS in cooperation with APCOM are conducting an Outcome Assessment of APCOM (2008 – 2011). To facilitate this process, two independent consultants, Paul Janssen and Jason Lee, will be conducting the outcome evaluation of APCOM.
As part of this process, the views of key stakeholders will be elicited. The result of this project will help to evaluate APCOM’s program to date and assess the impact of APCOM’s outcomes and workplan. In addition, it will provide strategic guidance to ensure that APCOM’s future work is effective, remains relevant and works in close partnership with relevant stakeholders.
Participation in the evaluation process
The survey will be open till the 31st January 2012, and can be accessed via the following link at
http://questionpro.com/t/AH3C8ZMbKY
The brief 15 minute survey will ask you to provide your opinion and feedback on multiple aspects of APCOM’s contributions and impacts in the following areas:
a) APCOM governance and infrastructure
b) HIV advocacy
c) Partnership building
d) HIV programming
Your confidentiality
The responses you make will be kept strictly confidential, unless otherwise specified with your consent, and where appropriate. The data will be securely stored and the access to the data is restricted to the evaluating consultants only. Neither APCOM nor other stakeholders will have access to any raw data collected during the evaluation.
Your participation is voluntary
Your participation is entirely voluntary and you are free to withdraw at any time without any prejudice.
Questions / further information
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your expectations of the evaluation process, please contact Jason Lee (email: apcom.evaluation@gmail.com).
Feedback to you
As part of the evaluation process, the draft findings of the survey will be made available for further comment and feedback.
SURVEY LINK http://questionpro.com/t/AH3C8ZMbKY
For more information on APCOM, please visit the website http://www.apcom.org or Facebook page www.facebook.com/apcom.org
Evaluation partners
Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (Hivos)
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, 1st December 2011, the Asia Pacific Community of Practice on HIV, Gender and Human Rights would like to join with the millions of others around the world in commemorating all those who have been affected by HIV and applaud the hard work of organizations and individuals working in the response to the epidemic. This year marks 30 years from when AIDS was first reported. Much has been achieve but a great deal more is required to bring an end to the epidemic. With this year’s theme of “Getting to Zero” in mind, HIV-APCoP is raising awareness on several crucial issues related to the HIV epidemic in our region. We challenge you test your knowledge by taking a short quiz. We also encourage you to share this widely amongst your networks of friends and colleagues. Help raise awareness!
Thanks to the HIV and AIDS Data Hub for Asia and Pacific (www.aidsdatahub.org), who provided assistance in developing the questions for this quiz.
We are pleased to share with you the Summary of E-discussion on the Socio-economic Impact of HIV on Women and Girls, conducted on the Asia Pacific Community of Practice on HIV, Gender, and Human Rights (HIV-APCoP) from 1 to 22 August 2011.
The e-discussion, based on initial findings of the soon to be published UNDP report The Socio-Economic Impact of HIV at the Household Level in Asia: A Regional Analysis of the Impact on Women and Girls, leveraged on the expertise and experience of the HIV-APCoP members to i) understand the critical socio-economic impacts of HIV on women and girls; ii) to explore in-depth impact mitigation possibilities; and iii) to consolidate knowledge on gaps and best practices in existing social protection strategies and schemes. Contributions were received from government, civil society, academia, and the UN family from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Regards,
HIV-APCoP Facilitators
[Dear HIV-APCoP network, we're pleased to share with you the below call for applications for AusAID's Human Rights Grants Scheme. Note the submission deadline of 14 October 2011.]
AusAID’s Human Rights Grants Scheme now open
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is now open to accepting applications for the Human Rights Grants Scheme (HRGS). The Scheme provides funding opportunity to organizations involved in building the capacity of organizations in developing countries to promote and protect human rights in direct and tangible ways.
However, unlike before, when the HRGS invited proposals from across all developing countries, this time only select countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean.
To be eligible for funding under the 2011–2012 HRGS organisations must be based and operate in the following countries:
- Africa: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe
- Middle East: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian territories
- Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam
- Pacific: Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,
- Latin America and Caribbean: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Cuba, Haiti
Grants will be awarded as a single payment for the Australian valued of between AUD20,000–AUD100,000 depending on the project requirements
It is expected that most projects will be for a one year duration, but some projects may take place over a maximum of two years. All 1 year projects must be completed by July 2013. All two year project must be completed by July 2014.
There is one-step application process where all applicants need to submit the full proposal only once. It is also important that before submitting a full applications, organizations should first contact the relevant Australian diplomatic post to discuss the proposed activity.
The deadline to submit proposals is 14 October 2011.
For complete guidelines, application form and contact details of Australian diplomatic post in your country, visit this link.
[Dear HIV-APCoP network, we are pleased to share with you a call for inputs into a regional sex work study by UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS and APNSW. We hope you can find the time to contribute by completing their online survey.]
Dear Colleagues,
The UNDP HIV, Health and Development Practice Team in Asia Pacific in partnership with UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO), UNAIDS Regional Support Team (RST) and the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) has commissioned a study on the Legal environments affecting HIV responses among sex workers in Asia and the Pacific.
The current study needs to be supplemented by information from people working in the field, including sex workers themselves. We are particularly interested in documenting laws and practices that criminalize the sex industry as well as laws and practices that empower sex workers and promote their health.
A copy of the Entire report as well as its sections relating to South Asia, South East Asia, and East Asia regions can be downloaded by clicking to the respective hiperlinks.
Your input is very valuable to us. Once you have read your regional and/or country chapter, please give us your feedback by participating in the following survey which will be open until the 7th of October 2011 . Please click HERE to access the survey.
The final report will be available in 2012 and we will look forward engaging with you on defining follow up steps on how it can be used most effectively.
Thank you very much for your time and support.
[Dear HIV-APCoP members, we're forwarding the below message from SEA-AIDS eforum.]
KEY MESSAGES FROM KEY AFFECTED WOMEN AND GIRLS COMMUNITY FORUM Women and girls constitute key affected communities. We are women and girls of all ages and diverse sexualities, we are women and girls living with HIV, female sex workers, transgender women, migrant women, women who use drugs. We are AIDS widows, AIDS orphans, wives and intimate partners of MSMs, PLHIV, and people who use drugs. We share a lot of vulnerabilities and challenges faced by all key affected communities but because of our gender, we experience those vulnerabilities and challenges differently.
Women’s rights and gender equality is central to the success of the HIV response. If we want a truly effective, relevant and reality-grounded HIV response, then that response needs to be gendered and equitable. Our participation at all levels must be meaningful.
To achieve this, targeted and sustained investments need to be made in the areas of:
- Capacity and leadership development for key affected women and girls
- Movement building and mobilization among and between key affected women and girls
- Ensuring sustainable core funding to support positive women’s networks.
- Evidence-based research to guide targeted interventions for most at risk and most affected women, including those within key affected populations to ensure that their specific needs and rights are addressed.
WE CALL ON EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO SUPPORT US IN CARRYING OUT THESE MESSAGES. AND IF YOU DO CARRY OUT THESE MASSAGES, TO MEAN THEM. AND, PARTICULARLY TO DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS/FUNDERS, IF YOU REALLY MEAN THEM, TO FUND THEM. FUND US!
And here are our specific messages on the 3 themes of the CF:
ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND SERVICES
Key affected women and girls are entitled to equal and stigma-free access to treatment and services; we must be able to exercise their right to comprehensive education, services, and commodities related to sexual and reproductive health including HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support.
TREATMENT AS PREVENTION
Key affected women and girls must have equitable access to treatment literacy. Programmes must be rights-based and gender-sensitive; must never limit women's full range of choices; and must be considered in the larger context of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Recent work on intimate partner transmission should be used to inform approaches to comprehensive counselling and treatment as prevention in the context of serodiscordant couples.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
Recent studies in this region have clearly demonstrated that traditional and entrenched gender inequities exacerbate a disproportionate impact of HIV's socio-economic burden on key affected women and girls underscoring the need for gendered approaches to social protection and human rights. Policy responses aimed at addressing the socio-economic impact of HIV must include specific programmes to address the impact on women and girls. Programmes must actively involve women and girls in design, implementation, monitoring amd evaluation; and must incorporate the multiple roles that women and girls occupy in their contexts. Programmes must be sensitive to the difference between protection of human rights and violations of those very rights; respecting the self-determination and autonomy of women and girls. Sexual and reproductive rights and freedoms must be recognised as a fundamental human right.
Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (APA)
W: www.asiapacificalliance.org
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SEA-AIDS is a regional eForum focused on AIDS, and other health and development issues in Asia and the Pacific.
SEA-AIDS is coordinated by the Health & Development Networks eForums Team (HDN, www.hdnet.org) with the support of Irish Aid (www.irishaid.gov.ie).
The views expressed in this forum do not necessarily reflect those of HDN or Irish Aid.
Reproduction welcomed provided HDN is informed of usage and source is cited as follows: SEA-AIDS eForum 2009: sea-aids@eforums.healthdev.org
[Dear HIV-APCoP members, this is the first of updates/news from ICAAP we will be sharing with our network.]
PRESS RELEASE
New UNAIDS report shows HIV epidemic at critical juncture in Asia-Pacific region
Impressive gains across the region, but most countries need greater and sustained efforts to ‘get to zero’
BUSAN, South Korea, 26 August 2011-The AIDS epidemic in Asia and the Pacific is at a crossroads, according to a new report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). While the region has seen impressive gains—including a 20% drop in new HIV infections since 2001 and a three-fold increase in access to antiretroviral therapy since 2006—progress is threatened by an inadequate focus on key populations at higher risk of HIV infection and insufficient funding from both domestic and international sources.
Launched at the 2011 International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), the report, titled HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero, found that more people than ever before have access to HIV services across the region. However, most countries in the region are a long way from achieving universal access goals for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
“Getting to zero new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific will demand national responses based on science and the best available evidence,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “HIV programmes must be sufficiently resourced and solidly focused on key populations. Investments made today will pay off many-fold in the future.”
Gains in the regional HIV response, but progress is fragile
According to the report, an estimated 4.9 million [4.5 million–5.5 million] people were living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific in 2009, a figure that has remained relatively stable since 2005. The majority of people living with HIV in the region are in 11 countries: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Across Asia and the Pacific, there was a 20% decline in new HIV infections between 2001 and 2009—from 450 000 [410 000–510 000] to 360 000 [300 000–440 000]. Cambodia, India, Myanmar and Thailand have reduced their HIV infection rates significantly with intensive, wide reaching HIV prevention programmes for people who buy and sell sex.
The number of people accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment in the region has tripled since 2006, reaching some 740 000 people at the end of 2009. Cambodia is one of only eight countries in the world to provide antiretroviral therapy to more than 80% of the people eligible for it. However, as of end-2009, more than 60% of people in Asia and the Pacific who were eligible for treatment still could not access it.
The report found an estimated 15% decrease in new HIV infections among children since 2006. But regional coverage of HIV services to prevent new HIV infections in children continues to lag behind global averages, particularly in South Asia.
According to the report, HIV epidemics can emerge even in countries where HIV prevalence was previously low. After a more than 20-year ‘low and slow’ HIV epidemic in the Philippines, for example, the country now has a rapidly expanding epidemic among key populations. In the city of Cebu, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs increased from 0.6% to 53% between 2009 and 2011. In Manila and Cebu, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men is estimated at 5%.
Key populations at higher risk of HIV infection
According to the report, new HIV infections in the region remain concentrated among key populations: people who buy and sell sex, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and transgender people. Most programmes to protect key populations and their intimate partners from HIV infection are inadequate in size and scale.
Across the region, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and populations at higher risk of infection remain rife. About 90% of the countries in the region retain punitive laws and policies that effectively prevent people living with HIV and key populations from accessing life-saving HIV services.
Data suggest that a significant proportion of new HIV infections within key populations are among young people under the age of 25. In most settings, HIV prevention programmes are failing to sufficiently reach young people most at risk.
More AIDS resources urgently needed
The AIDS response in Asia and the Pacific is underfunded, the report found. In 2009, an estimated US$ 1.1 billion was spent on the AIDS response in 30 countries across the region—approximately one third of the funding needed to achieve universal access goals to HIV services.
Though China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Samoa and Thailand are funding the bulk of their HIV response from domestic resources, many countries in Asia and the Pacific depend heavily on foreign funding, particularly for the provision of antiretroviral therapy. Increased investment of domestic resources, especially in middle-income countries, is critical for the ongoing regional response to HIV.
Funding cutbacks from international donors also threaten progress in the regional AIDS response. In 2009, international assistance for the global AIDS response leveled off for the first time in a decade, and in 2010 it declined.
According to the report, investments to protect key populations from HIV remain insufficient. Among countries reporting detailed expenditure data in 2010, only 8% of total AIDS spending in South Asia and 20% in Southeast Asia focused on HIV prevention among key populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
The full report can be found on the UNAIDS web site www.unaids.org
Video materials including a video news release, video footage and interviews from Cambodia, China, India, and Thailand with quotes from the UNAIDS Executive Director (available in PAL and NTSC) can be accessed on the FTP: http://cmm-ftp.unaids.org/ | login ID: icaap / password: icaapAsia1
Photographs will be available at www.flickr.com/UNAIDS
Media contact
UNAIDS Bangkok | Beth Magne Watts | tel. +66 81 835 34 76 or +82 105 677 2334 | magnewattsb@unaids.org
UNAIDS Geneva | Saira Stewart | tel. +41 79 467 2013 | stewarts@unaids.org
UNAIDS
UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention treatment care and support. Learn more at www.unaids.org
[Dear HIV-APCoP members, a gentle reminder to take five minutes out of your day to complete our short survey, which will feed into the upcoming e-discussion. Thanks to all those who have already taken the time to complete it.]
Dear members,
We are pleased to inform you that we are planning to hold an e-discussion on the socio-economic impact of HIV on women and girls from 1 to 13 August 2011 on the Asia Pacific Community of Practice on HIV, Gender and Human Rights (HIV-AP-CoP). This is based on a recent regional study by UNDP titled ”The Socio-Economic Impact of HIV on Women and Girls at the Individual and Household Levels in Asia: A Regional Analysis”.
The key objective of the e-discussion is to identify the major areas of socio-economic impact on women and girls that require urgent attention and devise impact mitigation strategies, with a particular focus on social protection. The discussion therefore will have two parts. The first part will be to identify the priority impact areas using the above-mentioned Regional Analysis as a key resource. The second part will be to brainstorm on the policy and programme interventions required to mitigate these impacts. We would like to disseminate the highlights of the discussion at a joint-UN symposium on social protection at the forthcoming International AIDS Congress for Asia and the Pacific in Pusan.
This communication is to invite you to the first part of the discussion. For this, we have developed a short survey, based on the Regional Analysis, that will help you identify the most critical impacts of HIV on women and girls in the Asia Pacific region. We would greatly appreciate your response.
Click here to access the survey
Regards,
HIV-APCoP Facilitator
[Dear HIV-APCoP members, we're pleased to forward the below message from FEIM.]
Dear friends:
We are glad to inform you that FEIM, with the support of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, has now launched the survey of the "Virtual Consultation on the Implementation of the Global Fund's Gender Equality Strategy". The survey will run from 6 - 20 July and is available online at the links below in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, and will shortly be launched in Hindi and Arabic.
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/virtualconsultation
Español: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/consultavirtual
Française: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/consultationvirtuelle
Português: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/consultavirtualport
Russian: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/virtualconsultationrussian
Mandarin: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/virtualconsultationchinese
We thank you for your participation and encourage you to widely disseminate it among your networks!
best,
GCWA Secretariat team
Dear members,
We are pleased to share with you the Summary Report on our recently completed E-discussion on HIV and the Law (download link found below). The E-discussion, which took place from 17 February to 11 March 2011, built on the recently held Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law.
Summary of E-discussion; HIV and the Law
HIV-APCoP Facilitator
