New Delhi, Jan. 13: The concerted efforts of groups of People Living
with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and other stakeholders during the last few
years have led to the emergence of an impressive PLWHA movement in
the Asia Pacific region, but their inclusion in the responses to the
epidemic is still far from satisfactory.

Though the principle of GIPA (Greater Involvement of People Living
with HIV/AIDS) has gained currency across the region, its practice
is still feeble, and, in many instances, tokenistic.

A new publication from UNDP Regional HIV and Development Programme,
which documents the results of its Asia Pacific Initiative for the
Empowerment of PLWHA during the last three years, points to the need
for a "third generation response" to ensure the centrality of HIV
positive people to the responses. The well-being, empowerment and
meaningful participation of PLWHA are indispensable ingredients for
such a rights and gender sensitive response, the publication says.
It also calls for enhanced human, technical and financial resources
and vigorous attention on issues such as stigma and discrimination,
access to treatment, enabling legal and ethical environment and
avenues for sustainable livelihoods.

The publication, titled "From Involvement to Empowerment" notes that
without empowerment, the participation of PLWHA will not be complete
and GIPA will never be meaningful. It features some concrete
initiatives by 23 PLWHA groups across the Asia Pacific region in
association with APN+ (Asia Pacific Network for People Living with
HIV/AIDS), INP+ (Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS) and
UNDP in areas of networking, capacity building and leadership
development.

"Years of engagement with the epidemic have brought home the
fundamental realization that active participation and support of
PLWHA are critical for an effective, human response to HIV. But it
is yet to gain momentum in Asia Pacific," said Ms. Sonam Yangchen
Rana, head of the UNDP Regional HIV and Development Programme in
Asia Pacific. "On the one hand decision makers do not seem to fully
appreciate the potential demonstrated by PLWHA, while on the other
there are limitations which need to be addressed," she added.

The publication (56 pages, ISBN 81-902585-1-6) can be downloaded
from www.youandaids.org, the HIV/AIDS Portal for Asia Pacific.