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HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS
Challenges and Opportunities
In Asia and the Pacific, the HIV still represents a significant challenge with the epidemic outpacing the response. For every person who starts treatment, there are currently almost two new infections, concentrated among key populations at higher risk - people who buy and sell sex, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and transgender people. Individuals from these groups face legal and policy barriers which impede universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. These include, among others, criminalization of same-sex relations and sex work, restriction on the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV, compulsory detention centres for people who use drugs and the death penalty for drug-related offences.
Our Response
The United Nations plays a pivotal role in providing inclusive platforms to accelerate the implementation of ESCAP resolutions 66/10 (2010) and 67/9 (2011) aiming to address these challenges, consistent with the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS (2011). This is achieved by promoting regional cooperation among Asia-Pacific governments and through partnerships with people living with HIV, civil society and private-sector groups.
Our Work
ESCAP provides technical support to governments and other stakeholders by:
The Meeting brought together, for the first time, some 200 ministers and senior officials from justice, law enforcement, drug control, health and social protection, as well as civil society, to consider legal and policy barriers that impede universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and that compromise the rights of people living with, and affected by, HIV. Governments, with input from people living with HIV and civil society, endorsed a roadmap that identified means of greater regional cooperation and committed to actions to review national laws and address other issues that hinder universal access.
- Carrying out analysis on key aspects of the epidemic, with particular reference to multisectoral approaches;
- Advocating for more supportive policies and programmes, including legislation that addresses stigma and discrimination;
- Issuing pioneering studies, such as on the role of older persons and HIV and AIDS, with an emphasis on family support.
The Meeting brought together, for the first time, some 200 ministers and senior officials from justice, law enforcement, drug control, health and social protection, as well as civil society, to consider legal and policy barriers that impede universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and that compromise the rights of people living with, and affected by, HIV. Governments, with input from people living with HIV and civil society, endorsed a roadmap that identified means of greater regional cooperation and committed to actions to review national laws and address other issues that hinder universal access.