ASAP's Response to Discussion on AIDS_ASIA eFORUM

To All Participants of the AIDS-Asia Forum,

This message is posted by the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) in
response to recent comments made on 26 January on the AIDS Asia forum in order
to "review the state of governance of HIV and AIDS related knowledge in Asia
Pacific region with a particular emphasis on the governance of International
conference on HIV&AIDS in Asia and Pacific"(sic). This message is intended to
assist that discussion by providing some additional information.

Firstly, the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) is the custodian of the
International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP). Accordingly, we
welcome any cooperative process that promotes open and frank discussions related
to HIV/AIDS and look forward to receiving valuable input from communities and
beyond in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus in Asia and the Pacific.

Good governance is a matter of vital importance to ASAP. Accordingly, ASAP
embarked upon an extensive process of re-institutionalising itself to ensure
greater transparency and accountability some two years ago. Part of that work
includes the transition of ASAP from an organisation of individual members to
one of organisational membership that will further strengthen regional advocacy
on HIV/AIDS. Another important component of that process, beyond ongoing
discussions with the International AIDS Society about improved coordination and
funding between international and regional conferences, necessarily includes the
strengthening of the governance of ICAAP.

Whilst recognising the view of the author whose comments appeared on 26 anuary
that, "there can be no universal template for good governance", ASAP believes
that the experience it has acquired as custodian of six successful Congresses
since 1990, provides it with a unique opportunity to act as a source of public
information for future ICAAP hosts. Accordingly, ASAP has developed a document
entitled, "Guidelines for Prospective Hosts of an International Congress on AIDS
in Asia and the Pacific".

The Guidelines are intended to assist prospective and actual Local Organising
Committees (LOC) comprising of both governmental and civil society
representatives. Amongst other things, the Guidelines will: provide background
information for LOCs on past experiences; case study in summary two previous
ICAAP events; and, articulate the relationships between the LOC, the
International Advisory Committee (IAC) and ASAP. This information will be made
publicly available and lodged on ASAP's shared website at www.7 sisters.org
soon.

ASAP hopes that by publishing this document it will offer communities both
greater insight to the operations of ICAAP events, and encourage interested
parties in the future to consider hosting these very important gatherings. In
the meantime, we encourage everyone to visit our website and learn more about
ASAP's work and the work of the other member organisations of the Seven Sisters
Coalition.

Best wishes

Ms Marina Mahathir
Acting President ASAP
E-mail: <scotthearnden@...>