BMJ  2003;326:1286 (14 June)

Haemophilia patients launch action against Bayer over contaminated
blood products

Nebraska Deborah Josefson

A class action lawsuit has been launched against the Bayer and Baxter
corporations on behalf of people with haemophilia in Asia and Latin
America who contracted HIV or hepatitis through contaminated blood
products supplied by the companies.

Also named in the lawsuit were the Armour Pharmaceutical Company and
Alpha Therapeutic Corporation. The suit was filed in a US federal
court in California.

All four companies are accused of distributing contaminated blood
products in Asia and Latin America in 1984-5, even after such
products were taken off the US market because of fears that they had
not been properly screened for HIV and hepatitis C virus.

While a true screening test for the viruses did not exist at the
time, careful screening of donors could have minimised the risk, the
suit contends. The lawsuit further alleges that the companies bought
blood and plasma from the high risk groups of people, including
prisoners, injecting drug users, and promiscuous gay men.

The class action contends that thousands of people with haemophilia
contracted HIV or hepatitis C from tainted blood products. By 1992
the contaminated products had infected at least 5000 haemophiliac
people in Europe with HIV, and more than 2000 people had developed
AIDS. A total of 1250 people had died from the disease, the lawsuit
added.

The lawsuit also found that by the mid-1990s most of the 4000 people
in Japan with AIDS were haemophiliac people and that nearly all of
the cases were linked to contaminated clotting factors traced to the
United States.

In Latin America at least 700 cases of HIV are linked to use of
contaminated blood products by haemophiliac people, the lawsuit said.
In the mid-1990s the four companies paid out $640m (£390m; €545m) in
damages to settle a similar lawsuit.

In a statement Bayer said: "Bayer complied with all regulations in
force in the relevant countries based on the amount of scientific
evidence available at that time."

The decisions that the company made 20 years ago should not be judged
by the same standards of scientific knowledge available now, the
statement said.

Australia Woman Wins Damages After Contracting HIV
Tue Jun 10, 1:32 PM ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian court on Tuesday ordered two doctors
to pay a woman more than A$700,000 ($460,000) in damages after she
contracted HIV from her former husband, whom she believed had tested
negative for the virus that causes AIDS.

Sydney doctors Nicholas Harvey and King Weng Chen had argued that
doctor-patient confidentiality prevented them from telling the woman,
identified only as PD, that her fiance had HIV before they got
married.

But New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Jerrold Cripps said the
doctors did not make it clear to their patient, identified as FH,
that he had to inform his bride of his medical condition.
Cripps awarded $727,437 in damages to the 28-year-old woman, who had
unprotected sex with her husband in the belief they had both tested
negative for HIV.

A court official said it was unclear whether the doctors would
appeal.

Dear Colleague,

An International Conference on "Women’s Health in South East Asian Region" is
being organized by the Health Department, Municipal Corporation Of Delhi on 9th
& 10th December, 2003 at ‘The Convention Hall’ Ashoka hotel New Delhi, India to
give an international forum to discuss various issues related Women’s Health.

This has been proposed in view of the increasing concern of the society since
women being the pivot point of the family, her ill health reflects on the health
of the family as a whole. According to WHO estimates in South East Asian Region,
Reproductive ill health accounts for 37% of the total disease burden in women
aged 15-44 years and for 12% in men in the same group. It has also been observed
that the Couple Protection Rate ranges from 10% in Maldives, 42% in India and
70% in Thailand.

Though the CPR is increasing, there are still unmet needs and shortcomings in
Family Planning Programmes. The sorry state of affairs in the context of
HIV/AIDS as the women still suffers, for no fault of her and not only gets
infected herself but also her children who appear in this world infected.
Condoms are not used because the partner does not agree and we are still harping
on the Couple Protection Rates.

Medics still refuse to handle these patients even though best training is given
to them. Society still considers them untouchables and throws them out of their
houses. Whatever treatment is available is expensive and people cannot afford
it. People are talking of women empowerment by giving them their rights but not
as a health measure to protect them from dreaded diseases like AIDS. Is this not
gender based violence that for the husband to enjoy he will not be using
condoms. Simple physical infliction is not gender-based violence. Women
trafficking is also a bold arena . These issues are to be looked into not only
by doctors but also by social scientists by sharing with the people of South
East Asian Region especially Thailand where the HIV incidence rate has atleast
been controlled. We at India will like to learn by their experience and
interventions to control this epidemic of AIDS in our country.

Health Department, Municipal Corporation Of Delhi has taken this initiative to
blend all these issues not only in the frame work of medical domain but also in
the Social infrastructure by organising this Conference. The topics for
discussion in the conference are likely to include subjects like:

Reproductive Health ( RTI/ STI /AIDS)
Gender based violence (Resist refusal of condoms)
Women’s Health & Communicable Diseases (HIV AIDS)
Coping with Aging
Women Empowerment as Health Measure ---Boldly say no to AIDS
Cancer& Women
Private & Public Partnership in Women’s Health
Male as Supportive partner in Women’s Health

It is felt that it would be possible to have wide ranging deliberations on the
above matters as also allied issues relating to Women’s health. The
recommendations to improve women’s health will then be examined by policy
planners and concerned ministries / Departments for implementation to the extent
possible.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to organize this conference with Global
presence. Every care is being made to invite the distinguished faculty from
India and Abroad and we promise you excellent scientific and educational
programmes to meet your expectations.

You are cordially invited to be a part of this endeavor and participate as a
delegate/speaker in this conference. If possible you can even present a poster/
paper on any of the topics mentioned above. It will be excellent if you or your
organization could sponsor some delegates working with you to attend this
conference. Even some financial assistance would be of a great help. Detailed
brochure will be sent to you shortly. You can view the brochure at the official
website www.womenshealthmcd.com.

Any queries could be directed to email address womenshealthmcd@...

An excellent weather awaits you in the month of December at Delhi for these
brainstorming sessions.

With warm regards,

Dr. K.N.Tewari

Municipal Health Officer Cum Director Health Services
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
48, Town Hall
Delhi 110006,India

Chairman, International Conference on Women’s Health In South East Asian Region
Tel :00-91-011-23936101
Fax :00-91-011-23942056, 00-91-011-23965669
Website: www. womenshealthmcd.com
E-Mail – womenshealthmcd@...

Pact and USAID announce HIV/AIDS grant winners

Pact and USAID announced the Community REACH winners for its latest
grants competition, which will make $750,000 dollars in HIV/AIDS
awards for programs that will reduce stigma and discrimination at the
community level. The seven recommended recipients were selected among
102 applicants working in 20 countries.

"Stigma and discrimination remain key barriers to accessing HIV/AIDS
prevention, care, and support services.  The innovative community-
based programs that were awarded funding today will reduce the stigma
and discrimination felt by HIV infected and affected individuals,
allowing them to access these much-needed services," said Dr. Anne
Peterson, USAID's Assistant Administrator for Global Health.

The grant winners are all organizations that have the potential to
reach many thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs),
traditional leaders, caregivers, health care providers, and families
affected by HIV/AIDS.  Each selected winner has embodied the
principles of "Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS"
(GIPA) in their program designs.   International NGO winners were
required to have local NGO sub-grant partners and will provide
capacity building to their partners that include community-based
organizations (CBOs) and local institutions such as organizations and
networks of people living with AIDS.

Only one grant to Asian agencies:

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in partnership with
Rural Association for the Development of the Economy (RADE), Cambodia
Organization for Human Rights and Development (COHRD) – Cambodia.

ADRA and its local partners will empower and mobilize stakeholders,
such as trained Buddhist leaders, local authorities and PLWHA to help
reduce internal and external stigma and discrimination and facilitate
widespread and enduring changes in social attitudes in Sampov Meas
District.  These stakeholders will be mobilized to disseminate
accurate information about and dispel myths surrounding HIV/AIDS and
PLWHA, promote a compassionate community and individual response to
PLWHA, and inform people about locally-available voluntary counseling
and testing (VCT) and support services.


For Further details please Contact: Polly Mott
(Tel.) 202/466-5666
E-mail: pmott@...

Invitation: The 4th International Conference on AIDS India

Theme: Comprehensive Solutions - Now
VENUE: Chennai, INDIA
DATE: November 9th-12th, 2003

The 4th International conference on AIDS India is organized once
every two years by the Department of Experimental Medicine and AIDS
Resource center of the TN DR MGR Medical University. The first
conference was held in 1997, the second in 1999, the third in 2001
and the fourth conference is slated to be held in the IMAGE
conference center Chennai (Madras) from the Nov 9th – 12th, 2003.

At all the three conferences the response was overwhelming and the
support from the internal community was most encouraging. We thank
all those from India and Overseas who supported the conferences
financially and by their participation. Without their continued
support and encouragement the planning for the fourth conference
would not be possible. I thank also the President of the conference
the revered Vice – Chancellor, Dr.C.V.Bhirmanandham for his guidance.

The 4th AIDS India conference will provide a platform for sharing of
new information, experiences and current updates. What then are the
new developments that have taken place in the field of HIV/AIDS in
the past two years?

Earnest Preventive strategies to halt the spread of HIV infection is
in place and the NACO's efforts complimented by the various regional
control societies need commendation. Several NGOs in the country are
concerned of the needs of the PLWA. NACO's antiretroviral prophylaxis
to prevent the mother to child transmission has moved from a
feasibility study to a programme. In our MTCT programme at the
Namakkal district, in addition to the services at the district head
quarters hospital the VCTC services are provided to include the PHC's
and the tribes at the Kolli hills, with the objective to reach out
to " Every women and infant in the district of Namakkal". ART and
Drug Access have got a shot in the arm by publication of the WHO
guidelines and the International HIV Treatment Access coalition
(ITAC)- these initiatives need to be strengthened. However some of
these plans are still on the drawing boards and have not filtered
down to where the patients are!

Some funding agencies are skeptical of providing ART while others
like the Global fund are forthright in funding CARE initiatives that
include ART

Prejudice and stigma attached to the disease are still perpetuated
within and outside the health care settings.

We have seen some set backs in the field of HIV Vaccine that may
assist in the Prevention. Several encouraging reports suggest that
more funding is awarded to Microbicide research and clinical trails.
This is a positive step in the prevention efforts.

We are working to ensure that the conference will address the needs
of all those working in the field of HIV/AIDS and living with the
virus.

The 4th International Conference on AIDS INDIA is organized to cover
a wide range of issues related to HIV/AIDS and to encourage sharing
of recent developments.

The programme will include plenary sessions, workshops, expert
sessions and satellite meetings. These satellite meetings will
provide an opportunity to various agencies to organize sessions that
may contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS

Warm welcome awaits you in Chennai

Dr. NM Samuel
Chairman
______________
Contact details:

Scientific Program Information:
Dr. S. Mini Jacob
Tel: +91 44 22354203
Fax: +91 44 22353698
Email: demaids@...
Website: www.aidsindia2003.org


Scholarship Program Information:
Dr. S Parameshwari
Tel: +91 44 22354203
Fax: +91 44 22353698
Email: demaids@...
Website: www.aidsindia2003.org


Exhibition Display Information:
Dr. Shoba
Tel: +91 44 22354203
Fax: +91 44 22353698
Email: demaids@...
Website: www.aidsindia2003.org


Travel/accommodation Information:
Mr. R. Vishwanath
Tel: +91 44 22354203
Fax: +91 44 22353698
Email: demaids@...
Website: www.aidsindia2003.org

HIV ON THE RISE IN THREE AUSTRALIAN STATES
AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY MUST BE REVITALISED

Rises in HIV infection rates in the states of Victoria, Queensland
and New South Wales have reinforced the need for a major
revitalisation of Australia's response to HIV/AIDS, according to the
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO).

Latest figures for the year 2002 show that the rate of new HIV
infections rose by seven per cent in Victoria, and by twenty per cent
in Queensland. HIV figures being finalised for New South Wales are
also indicating a rise in new infections.

Last year some 700 Australians became infected with HIV, with gay
and bi-sexual men making up the majority of these new HIV
infections.  The HIV infection figures from Victoria reflect the
third successive year there has been rise in new infections in that
State.

AFAO National President Bill Whittaker said that the rises in
infection rates were significant and must be acted on:

"The increase that first occurred in Victorian HIV infection figures
during 2000 and 2001 have occurred for the third year in a row and
we now see rises in Queensland and in NSW.  These three States
make up almost 90 per cent of the national HIV/AIDS caseload.  So
a worrying national pattern appears to be emerging," he said.

AFAO says that the reasons for this situation are complex and
multifaceted.  They include declining Commonwealth and
State/Territory government leadership and funding; rises in sexually
transmitted infections and in unsafe sexual practices; declines in
regular HIV testing; and possibly from misunderstandings about
treatments and vaccines under development being "cures".

"This upward trend in new infections is by no means confined to
Australia," Whittaker said.  "There have also been recent increases
in HIV infection rates in a number of comparable countries in
Europe and North America.  Overall, the declines in HIV infection
rates that characterised western countries in the 1990s are now
starting to trend in the other direction in a significant number of
countries.

"The warnings have been there for some time about Australia's
vulnerability to new HIV infections.  To its credit the Commonwealth
Government recognised this vulnerability and commissioned a
review of Australia's National HIV/AIDS Strategy early last year.
The review's reports and recommendations were handed to the
Health Minister last November.

"However, it is very disappointing that after six months the
Commonwealth Health Minister has not yet released the review
reports, nor has the Minister indicated how the review's
recommendations are to be addressed.  This delay is causing a
loss of morale and uncertainty about the future of our AIDS
response."

"AFAO understands that the review calls for a major shake up of
Australia's AIDS response - particularly in the area of HIV
prevention - and for the early implementation of an upgraded
National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

"We call on the Minister to release the reports and provide a
roadmap for bringing in a revitalised National HIV/AIDS Strategy
without further delay," Whittaker said.

Whittaker pointed out that Australia has been widely praised for its
very effective response to the HIV epidemic over the past 20 years.

"Australia is at risk of losing its international reputation as a
world and regional leader in HIV/AIDS if it allows the current
situation to  continue," Whittaker said.

  "We are still doing many things right and we should not lose sight
of this.  But this rise in infections is a wake up call to all in the
AIDS partnership - National and State/Territory Governments,
community based organisations, and the medical and research sector -
that we need to revitalise our efforts in the face of new
complexities in our work.

"We look to the Commonwealth Government to lead a cooperative
response to this challenge, consistent with the leadership role it
has played in responding to HIV/AIDS over the past 20 years."

*****
AFAO MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday, May 29, 2003.
AFAO is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's
community-based response to the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. AFAO's members
include the State and Territory AIDS Councils, the Australian IV
League, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS and
the Scarlet Alliance.

15th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine
(ASHM) Cairns Convention Centre, Australia
22 - 25 October, 2003
***************************************************************

CONFERENCE THEME & PROGRAM

The theme for the 15th ASHM Conference is GLOBAL CRISIS - LOCAL ACTION
and is the Society's response to the UN declaration of commitment on
HIV/AIDS (GLOBAL CRISIS - GLOBAL ACTION). At a time when countries like
Australia could reflect on the success of their response to HIV/AIDS,
there is a global emergency that demands urgent attention. The  conference will
therefore have a strong emphasis on the regional  response to the HIV epidemic
and the important role that Australia has  in providing support for our near
neighbours.

The annual ASHM conference is the major forum for the presentation of  HIV and
hepatitis research in Australasia and you will hear about all  the latest
advances from leading local and international figures such  as  Carol Jenkins,
Alan Landay, Martin Markowitz, Haikin Rachmat, Ninkama  Moiya, Greg Dore, Graham
Cooksley, Dennis Altman and Zubairi Djoerban. A wide range of plenary,
symposium, workshop and concurrent sessions  are  planned to cover the fields of
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander  Health, Basic Science, Clinical Management,
Epidemiology, Hepatitis,  International & Regional Issues, Medical Education and
Technology,  Nursing and Allied Health, Public Health or Community
Program and Social  Research.

Abstracts are invited from this range of areas.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

The deadline for the submission of abstracts is Friday 18 July 2003.
Abstracts can be submitted online at www.ashm.org.au/conference2003 or  sent by
email as an attached document to nadine@...

Abstract submission guidelines can be viewed on our website.


WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND THE ASHM CONFERENCE?

*  It is the major forum for the presentation of state of the art  research
in Australasia
*  You will hear about the latest advances from leading local and international
figures
*  Gain recognition for continuing medical education programs
*  Meet up with old friends and make new ones
*  Visit Cairns, a relaxed tropical city and one of Australia's top
tourist destinations. For those who have the opportunity to arrive  early, or
stay longer, visits to the world heritage rainforest and  Great Barrier Reef are
highly recommended.

FURTHER INFORMATION & REGISTRATION

For further information or to register online visit
www.ashm.org.au/conference2003 or contact us
on conferenceinfo@...

E-mail: Source:  www.ashm.org.au/conference2003

"Spread of AIDS in Asia's Militaries a Threat to Security"
Associated Press (05.16.03)::Daniel Lovering

HIV is increasing among Asian military personnel, and could  threaten regional
security if infections rise to levels seen in Africa, a Honolulu-based US
consultant said Friday. Asian soldiers spreading the disease while serving
abroad as international peacekeepers also put wider security at risk, said
Gerard Bradford, director of the Center of Excellence in Disaster  Management
and Humanitarian Assistance, headquartered at Tripler Army Medical Center.

"Aside from the pandemic and the health problems and all the tragedy and loss of
life that HIV/AIDS has created ... it presents a real threat to the stability of
the region," Bradford said. The 13th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference
in Bangkok May 11-16 brought together hundreds of delegates from about two dozen
countries to discuss medical issues facing armed forces in
countries across the region.

The Thai Royal Army has been particularly successful in combating the spread of
HIV/AIDS in its ranks through prevention efforts, he said, but "it's clear there
are other parts of Asia that are significantly affected." "Other countries are
seeing it rise dramatically. It's intravenous drug use as well as sexual
activity," he said. Bradford declined to say which countries or peacekeeping
forces were most affected by the fatal illness. But he said Cambodia, India and
Vietnam are "working the problem." Bradford said his organization, which works
with several international aid agencies, attended the conference to start a
regional discussion to determine the extent of the problem and urge aggressive
action to stop it. "I think all the trends are
for increased incidence, and the idea is to try to mitigate that
increase as quickly and aggressively as we can," Bradford added.

Dear Members of the group,

This is to let you know that UNICEF India recruits a specialist in Prevention of
Parent-To-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS to support its programme in India.  The
position is based in Delhi.

Please see attached Terms of Reference.  If you are interested or know someone
who might be, please send a letter or e-mail expressing this interest and a
detailed CV at avincent@....

___________________________________________________
Anne H. Vincent, MD., MPH., DTM&H
Project Officer Safe Motherhood/Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of
HIV
Officer-In-Charge HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme
UNICEF India Country Office
Unicef House, 73 Lodi Estate, New Delhi - 110 003, India
Tel: 91-11-24690401 (ext. 1213)/Fax: 91-11-24627521
e-mail: avincent@...

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND. TERMS OF REFERENCE
Temporary Fixed Term Appointment (NOC. Assistant Project Officer Prevention of
Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV

1. Purpose of Assignment

· To support the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT)
project as part of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme and in-line with the
project and sub-projects as laid down in the Master Plan of Operations 2003-2007
with particular emphasis on:
1) PMTCT Scaling Up:
Ø Coordinate of the training of PMTCT teams throughout the country together with
the UNICEF State Offices Focal Points and the State AIDS Control Organizations
Ø Monitor of the implementation of PMTCT throughout involved States ( ~ 780
health facilities by end of 2004) using agreed upon 11 indicators
Ø Facilitate the smooth implementation of the PMTCT programme countrywide,
including issues of logistics with regards to rapid test kits and Nevirapine and
UNICEF funding
Ø Provide inputs into fund raising project proposals, donor reports, annual
reports
2) District Models of PMTCT:
Ø Design of the ‘district model’ based on the implementation of the
‘four-pronged strategy’ for PMTCT, decentralization and integration into
RCH/ICDS in close collaboration with the concerned UNICEF State Office(e) and
the SACS
Ø Document the implementation of the ‘District Model’ of PMTCT from the
conceptualization to the actual implementation of PMTCT at peripheral level/

2. Program area and specific project involved

Program/Project: YI-205/147

3. What is the program goal to which the consultancy is related?

Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV

4. Duty Station

New Delhi (office space will be provided)

5. Duration of Contract

One year, with option of renewal


6. Supervisors

Primary supervisor:
Dr. Anne H. Vincent
Project Officer Safe Motherhood/Women’s Health/PMTCT, ICO

Second reporting officer:
Chief, HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme, ICO

7. Major tasks to be accomplished (estimate time required to complete each task)

25%  Quarterly monitoring reports on PMTCT implementation countrywide

10% Quarterly monitoring of distribution of supplies and CAG

25%  Design of ‘Comprehensive integrated decentralized district model of PMTCT’

20% Document the ‘District Model of PMTCT’ as it unfolds

20% Provide inputs into project proposals, donor reports, and annual reports

8. End product (e.g. final report, article, documents, etc…)

· Quantitative data on PMTCT implementation compiled and analyzed
· Design of the ‘District Model of PMTCT’
· Documentation of the ‘District Model of PMTCT’
· Inputs into fund raising documents, donor reports and annual reports

9. Official Travel involved

Travel to PMTCT implementing sites as necessary

10. Estimated cost of the TFTA:

Monthly salary:  Rs. 142,000 = US$3,023.20
In-country travel:  Rs. 30,000 per month

11. Amount budgeted in APB for this activity

US$38,000 per year
GC/2002/6012-1 then OR

12. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required

MBBS and MPH degrees required
5 years of experience in working in developing countries with project design,
planning, monitoring, documentation experience.
3 to 5 years of experience in working on HIV/AIDS issues.  Experience in working
on Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV an asset
Experience of collaborating with other UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, and the donor
community
Experience in data collection and excellent analytical skills
Excellent writing skills
Excellent inter-personal skills

-------------------------------------
Prepared by: Dr. Anne H. Vincent
Project Officer Safe Motherhood/Women’s Health
OIC HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme

-------------------------------------
Approved by Dr. Erma Manoncourt
Deputy Director (Programmes)

WHO: Global Health-Sector Strategy for HIV/AIDS 2003-2007
Providing a Framework for Partnership and Action

(The World Health Assembly will consider this GHSS document in May
2003)

Conscious of the need to define and strengthen the role of the health
sector within a broad multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS, the World
Health Assembly adopted a resolution in May 2000 (WHA53.14)
requesting the Director General of WHO to develop a strategy for
addressing HIV/AIDS as part of the United Nations systemwide effort
to combat the pandemic.

The resulting Global Health-Sector Strategy (GHSS) for HIV/ AIDS
described in this document is only one of a number of important
initiatives that have emerged since the United Nations Special
Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001, and has been developed by WHO, in
consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, in a spirit of
renewed determination.

The World Health Assembly will consider this GHSS document in May
2003. The global community in general and the health sector in
particular now have an exceptional opportunity to redouble their
efforts against a devastating global pandemic and to show what can be
achieved through bold leadership and concerted action.

Aim of the Global Health-Sector Strategy
The aim of the Global Health-Sector Strategy (GHSS) is to strengthen
the response of the health sector to the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS
as part of an overall multisectoral effort. Within this overarching
aim four specific objectives have been identified:

to advise health ministries on the core components of an effective
health-sector response to HIV/AIDS;

to support health ministries in developing the policy, planning,
priority-setting, implementation and monitoring frameworks needed to
generate such a response as part of overall national strategic plans;

to enhance and promote the comparative advantages, expertise and
experience that health ministries can contribute to national
strategic planning for HIV/AIDS;

to help the health sector to meet the goals contained in the United
Nations General Assembly Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.

In support of these objectives the Strategy describes the support
that WHO will offer, outlining a series of steps, issues and Action
Points for health ministries and others in the health sector to
consider, especially during the development or updating of national
strategic plans for HIV/AIDS. The Strategy can be used on a section-
by-section basis to review policies and actions on specific topics –
for example, priority-setting; human resourcing; or the allocation of
roles and responsibilities.

MORE INFORMATION

http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/advocacy/ghss/en/
- Download PDF file in English (32 pages, 315 kb)

AIDS, Child Trafficking Major Problems in Asia-Pacific: UNICEF"

Agence France Presse (05.07.03)

The HIV/AIDS epidemic and child trafficking have reached alarming levels in the
East Asian and Pacific region, delegates at a regional conference said on May 7.
More than 2 million people in the region are already HIV-positive, and
infections continue to rise rapidly, according to the "Bali Consensus," a
document adopted at the end of the three-day conference in Bali, Indonesia. The
conference, organized by UNICEF, was attended by delegates from 25 countries.

"In the years ahead we will also have to provide support for millions of
children and young people whose lives have been severely affected by the illness
of their parents, especially those who have been orphaned," the report said.
Delegates said human trafficking involved increasingly large numbers of women
and children. Children are being trafficked for labor, sexual  exploitation,
begging and adoption. Girls under 18 make up one-third of those who have been
forced to be prostitutes in a number of countries.

"These children are frequently subjected to physical and sexual violence and
psychological trauma, and are highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases," the document said. "The HIV and AIDS pandemic among
children, serious malnutrition, trafficking and sexual exploitation of
children are important challenges for the implementation of the Bali Consensus,"
said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy.   End

Dear colleagues,

FYI from the World Health Organization


New AIDS Treatment Strategy Emerging for Asian Countries

WHO and Member States Explore How to Include Antiretrovirals in Basic HIV
Care Package in Asia and the Pacific

WHO Press Release
12 May 2003

*****************

A World Health Organization (WHO) consultation on scaling up HIV/AIDS
care including antiretroviral (ARV) drug treatment, taking place this week
(12-15 May), is the first of its kind to be held in Asia.  The WHO will bring
together representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations,
people living with HIV/AIDS groups and international organizations from
throughout the Asia- Pacific region.

Thailand will play host to this consultation, which is organised  jointly
by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia and its Regional Office  for
the Western Pacific.. The goal of the meeting is to develop new strategies
to address the  care needs of the nearly 7 million people living with HIV/AIDS
in the Asia-Pacific region - about one-sixth of all people living with HIV and
AIDS globally.

WHO has stated unequivocally that this meeting is “intended to revisit
and build upon strategies discussed at the United Nations General Assembly
Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), held in June 2001”.  At that  time,
180 governments and a diverse group of non-governmental actors made a collective
commitment to address urgent issues of care and treatment
for people living with HIV and AIDS.  All segments of society should be
engaged, together with the international community, to develop national
strategies that “strengthen health-care systems and address factors
regarding the provision of HIV-related drugs, including antiretroviral
treatments.” The governments that signed on to the 2001 UNGASS
Declaration are now being held accountable for those commitments.

Antiretroviral treatments have turned HIV/AIDS into a manageable
chronic condition in richer countries in recent years, and even in the
developing world, scaling up access to ARVs has been shown to be a feasible
option. In Brazil, 115,000 people were on ARV treatment by mid-2002. It is
estimated that between 1994-2002, 90,962 deaths have been averted (a  50%
decrease in mortality). Median survival of participants with AIDS increased from
18 months in 1995 to 58 months after the introduction of
antiretroviral treatment.

As one of the first countries in Asia to provide ARVs as part of the
standard care package, Thailand’s current strategy also provides an
excellent case study for the process of scaling-up HIV/AIDS care in the
Asia-Pacific. An increasing number of generic HIV drug manufacturers
are making ARVs every year, decreasing the yearly costs of the drugs to
around US $300 per person, from previous prices that were more than ten times
higher.  Falling drug costs have allowed the Thai Ministry of Public
Health to support 13,000 people on ARV treatment in 2002.  The  government
aims to support 50,000 people living with HIV/AIDS on treatment by the
end of 2004.

Despite falling drug prices, and the availability of ARVs in the  private
medical services of most countries in Asia, effective treatments still remain
beyond the reach of most people who need them. WHO aims to collaborate with
governments and non-governmental groups to make these drugs more accessible to
people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Uton Muchtar Rafei, the Regional Director for WHO’s South-East Asia
Regional Office in New Delhi, foresees a major challenge being strengthening the
capacity of health care systems in the region’s most affected countries.  He
noted that “WHO advocates including HIV/AIDS  care, including antiretroviral
treatment, into national HIV/AIDS prevention  and control policies.”

Dr. Shigeru Omi, the Regional Director for WHO's Western Pacific  Regional
Office added said, "In order to develop effective and sustainable  HIV/AIDS
care including antiretroviral treatment, it is crucial to establish partnerships
between public health and medical services, people living
with HIV/AIDS, NGOs and the community at all levels."

This combined stance marks a firm direction for HIV/AIDS care-related
policies, which are now likely to encompass the entire continuum of
care, including services like counselling for people being tested for HIV
infection, established treatments for so-called ‘opportunistic  infections’
that people living with HIV are prone to - as well as treatment with  ARV
drugs that attack HIV directly.

Participants arriving for the meeting commented on the importance of
including people affected by HIV/AIDS in this kind of dialogue.   “Having
seen so many people in the region – friends, colleagues and partners –  die
from lack of adequate treatments, today’s discussions must translate  into
action immediately,” said Greg Gray, Regional Coordinator of the Asia Pacific of
People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+). “While inviting affected communities to take
part is an essential step, it is also crucial that  we come to the table as
equal partners,” he added.

Stigma, legal issues, and other humanitarian concerns remain important
topics for discussion within this AIDS care framework. With respect to  all
of these critical issues, the regional WHO consultation will propose concrete
recommendations and strategies for the advancement of HIV  policy
at the national and regional levels.
*************

Further information: The WHO meeting described is taking place in  Chiang
Mai, Thailand, from 12-15 May 2003. To contact/interview  representatives
of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (Dr Jai Narain, Regional Adviser
HIV/AIDS) and/or the WHO Regional Office for the Western  Pacific
(Dr Bernard Fabre-Teste, Regional Adviser HIV/AIDS) please call +66 9
9500685.

World Health Organization
Regional Office for South-East Asia
New Delhi-110 002, India
Telephone: 91-11-2337 0804 – twenty lines and
(Direct): 23370971
Fax: 91-11-23370197 or 23379507

World Health Organization
Regional Office for the Western Pacific
1000 Manila, Philippines
Telephone: 63-2-5288001
Fax  63-2-5211036, 5260279, 5260362

ASEAN Regional Workshop on HIV/AIDS: Addressing Stigma and
Discrimination

The World Youth Foundation in cooperation with UNAIDS, Ministry of
Youth & Sports Malaysia, World Assembly of Youth and the Ministry of
Health Malaysia successfully hosted the above workshop from the  25-
28th April 2003 in Melaka, Malaysia. The workshop attracted 156 youth
representatives from various national youth coordination councils in
the ASEAN and non-ASEAN Region.

The workshop provided a forum for networking, sharing of knowledge
experiences and ideas on initiatives to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS
among youth and youth serving organizations and other stakeholders
besides promoting cross-country exchange of best practices for
implementing youth-friendly health services in the ASEAN region. A
skills building workshop on Reproductive Health of Adolescent Module
(RHAM) was conducted by the Family Planning Association of Melaka. At
the end of the skills building workshop participants acquired
leadership skills and life skills which would able them to educate
their peers both in and out of school setting effectively.

The workshop was a success and made a difference in addressing stigma
& discrimination related to HIV/AIDS. One fine example was the
respond given by one of the youth participants towards a PLWA who was
sharing his experience. The youth not only spoke out but hugged the
PLWA who was  encouraged, touched and empowered by knowing that there
are  so many young people out there who supported  him and accepted
him for who he is. Following that,  many other participants talked to
PLWA gave him more hugs and moral support.

On the final day of the workshop a group activity workshop on
developing an ASEAN Regional Youth Network on HIV/AIDS was conducted
by Mr Thomas Scalway of Panos Insitute London. This group activity
workshop saw the active participation of youth participants who were
very energetic, cooperative and attentive.

At the end of the workshop the participants unanimously agreed that
there is a need that an ASEAN Regional Youth Network on HIV/AIDS be
established to involve young people in the region to respond to
issues concerning AIDS. The World Youth Foundation is now embarking
on the next phase of establishing the network by the development of
mail discussion group /website thus evolving a networking structure
and partnership among youth and stakeholders in the field of youth
programmes and activities in the ASEAN region. In the coming days the
Foundation will be studying similar networks in this region and other
regions  to draw inputs on the strength and weaknesses of such
networks before finalizing the final draft action plan.

To assist us to succeed we will need your help. We ask that youth
organizations in the ASEAN region in particular provide us with
information of your organization to be listed in our database, which
will be included in our Network. It will be essentially free of cost
and will provide free publicity for your organization. If you are
interest please contact us at wyf@... and we will send you
more details  on how to submit your organization's information for
the Network.

The workshop was funded by Ministry of Youth & Sports Malaysia, the
ASEAN Secretariat and the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime
Minister's Department, Malaysia. .

WYF newsletter is a monthly electronic bulletin provided free from
WYF.
World Youth Foundation
142/2 Complex Munshi Abdullah
Jalan Munshi Abdullah
75100 Melaka, Malaysia
Email: wyf@...       Tel: 606 2815196/7      Fax:606 2820411
www.wyf.org.my

No time to waste as AIDS stigma continues to kill 20 years on, warns
Red Cross Red Crescent: 8 May 2003

Millions of people around the world are being needlessly infected and
killed by HIV/AIDS more than 20 years into the pandemic because of
the continued stigmatisation, discrimination and marginalization of
people living with the disease, the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned today.

"We don't have time to waste. The world is losing the battle against
HIV/AIDS. Each year, more and more people die from the disease and it
is the stigma and misinformation around HIV that is killing people,"
said International Federation president, Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro,
on World Red Cross Red Crescent Day (May 8).

"People place themselves at high risk from infection or refuse to
access treatment rather than face the consequences of social stigma,
such as losing their homes, businesses and even their families. In
Africa, women with HIV continue to breast-feed because if they stop,
everyone will know why. And then babies are put at risk. The world
has had more than two decades to learn about the disease and how it
is passed on, so there is no excuse for this continued abuse of human
dignity," Suárez del Toro added.

In a global effort to dispel the myths and stigma surrounding the
disease, the International Federation, launched a campaign last year
against HIV-related discrimination called The Truth About AIDS: Pass
It On. For the second year of the campaign, which has at its theme,
You CANNOT get AIDS by….., the focus is on the continued
misconceptions about the disease which end up killing people.

"Some people think that they can become infected by mosquito bites,
or by sharing the same toilet or even by working in the same office
as people with HIV/AIDS and that the only way to avoid this is to
physically shun them. Even medical personnel practice this kind of
discrimination," Suárez del Toro says.

Other examples of misinformation and stigma include the position
taken by faith-based and other prominent organizations condemning the
use of condoms and other proven measures to limit the spread of
sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, while singling out
high-risk populations for blame and discrimination.

"These organizations are acting irresponsibly by providing misleading
information about HIV/AIDS. The realities around AIDS are somewhat
different. We already know safe sex works. People think that needle
exchange programmes such as those run by the Red Cross to contain the
spread of HIV among injecting drug users, promote drug use. Wrong. We
know that this approach not only helps to significantly reduce HIV
infection among injecting drug users, but also opens a way to reduce
drug addiction itself," said Dr. Massimo Barra, creator of an Italian
Red Cross foundation that assists injecting drug users and board
member of the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world will be marking
World Red Cross Red Crescent Day with events promoting HIV-related
anti-stigma and discrimination messages.

In Geneva, the youth branch of the Red Cross, together with youth
delegates from 13 Eastern European sister societies and Young
Positive, a global network of HIV positive youth, are performing a
series of activities dispelling HIV/AIDS myths through graffiti art
and enactments and relaying messages that would help people find ways
to overcome stigma and discrimination.


For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Denis McClean, Head, Media Service Tel: + 41 22 730 44 28 / + 41 79
217 33 57. Media Service Duty Phone Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian
activities of 178 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among
vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and
encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate
human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the
International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
--------------------------------------------------------------
© 2003 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies

Dear group

I want to repsond to Edwards prompt to discuss the low prevalence in the
Philippines. Of course there are some mysteries regarding low prevalence, but
its maybe not so complicated. Look at Laos, its probably even lower, yet it
borders the Golden Triangle and Chiang Rai, probably the hottest HIV spot in
Thailand. And it has lareg-scale migration into Northeast Thailand. Why is
Vietnam still regarded as in its initial stages (see Philippines artice)?
Because it 'only' has an IDU tranmsitted disease, and as bad as that is it does
not have a sexually transmitted epidemic, therefore it does not have an
'explosion'. It looks like further explosions may not happen, slow moving tricky
epidemics may emerge though.

Why? the ingredients for an explosion required, it seems, at least in Asia, high
intensity sexual contacts (like brothels with high turnover rates); the
existences of high rates of STI; and young immature girls in the sex industry
helps.

Like it says in the Philippines article:

"Experts say a lucky combination of factors may for the moment have slowed the
arrival of an epidemic, including a low ratio of customers to sex workers,
low rates of certain other sexually transmitted diseases and limited
intravenous drug use".
sounds too simple but may be applicable to the three countries mentioned - two
of them communist countries that almost wiped out STIs.

regards, Allan Beesey
E-mail: a_beesey@...

HIV/AIDS Magazine for Asia Pacific

Dear Friends,

We are in the process of finalising the content for the second
edition of the YouandAIDS magazine, which one can describe as the
HIV/AIDS magazine for Asia Pacific. Some of you might have seen the
first edition, published in 2001.

Conceptualised and designed in the format of a popular, mainstream
magazine, YouandAIDS, strives to communicate on the diverse spectrum
of issues related to HIV/AIDS in the region in an innovative way. It
will have a cover story, special features, headlines, interviews,
opinion columns, arts and culture, photofeature etc - in short almost
the same content that any mainstream successful magazine carries. But
the only difference is that it is on HIV/AIDS - cover to cover.

I am writing this to inform our media network friends that if any of
you are interested to contribute can do so. The cover story this time
is on Human Trafficking and HIV in Asia Pacific and we would like to
see some inputs coming in from South East Asia, or more specifically
from the Mekong region.

You may also contribute interviews, special features, photographs etc
which you feel need wider dissemination. As committed media
practitioners and communicators, it will be a good opportunity for
all of you to communicate across the region. The magazine will be
distributed all over Asia Pacific and also in other parts of the
world.

Though we prefer original material, if you feel that a particular
piece you have already published may be reproduced, we can accept it.

We are planning to get the magazine out before the end of the month
and hence the deadline is quite tight. Still, I can assure you, it is
worth a try. Please write to me at pramod.kumar@...

Thanks
Pramod  Kumar

E-mail: pramod.kumar@...

Ref; Edward C Green's posting Low Rate of AIDS Virus in Philippines Is a Puzzle
" A good topic to get us started might be the recent NY Times article about low
HIV prevalence in the Philippines. Question: Is prevalence likely to remain "low
and slow," or will there be an "explosion?" And how to explain low HIV prev.
rates among MSM, FSW and IDU in the Philippines?
Edward C Green, Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies
9 Bow Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, E-mail: EGreendc@...
________
Hello Mr. Green,

Read through the article. I have conducted some research on the prevalence of
AIDS in India and the role of mass media in its prevention and control. The
reasons for low rate in Phillipines could be that many cases go unreported and
are not a part of any statistics. In countries like ours, where literacy levels
are not so high, this is one main problem. This leads to silent spread of the
epidemic, shrouded in ignorance and secrecy. Our messages are not designed
keeping in mind a sustained long term effort, they are designed more on the
basis of popular perceptions rather than solid message research. In india ,
advertising condoms as an AIDS prevention method has become so common that in my
study i found that adolescents knew about the use of condoms as AIDS prevention
method but they did not know its use as a contraceptive! What is the use of such
communication which leads to misinformation?

Dr. Archana Rakesh Singh
Lecturer,dept of Mass Communication,Panjab university, Chandigarh India
E-mail: archishukla@...
__________________

Re: Low Rate of HIV in Philippines and Prof Jeffry Day from Hong Kong
Universitie's response to it.

Also Hong Kong prevented a HIV epidemic among IDUs (the driving force of most
of China's HIV epidemics) through large-scale methadone maintenance programs
instituted before HIV took hold among IDUs. But agree that research into
"protective" factors of HK would be useful.

Cheers

Dave Burrows
Consultant on HIV/AIDS and Injecting Drug Use Issues
E-mail: <Dbsyd@...>

Dear All,

"Re: Low Rate of HIV in Philippines: Is prevalence  likely to remain "low and
slow" Could we also add Hong Kong, where, (unlike the mainland of China), good
public health awareness and surveillance exist; and also, for other than
religious reasons, condom use is rather low. Research opportunity in a very
condensed urban infrastructure would make investigation rather logistically
easy.

Here (WHO estimate) only 3,000 out of 7.8 million people are carriers
(local figure 2000, end of 2002), and there are about 600 AIDS patients.
(total carriers+patients 0.05%). Injecting drug users are about 15,000,
Hepatitis B is present is in 20% of the population.

Some major research on these apparent anomalies and their contrasts with
Viet Nam, also ethnically Chinese, Thailand, and Caucasian/African
populations really should be funded! I think the basis may lie in actual
sexual practices, both gay and straight. I think HK gay population is far
less oriented to anal intercourse then some other populations, and
heterosexual sex may be far less "exploratory", but these are difficult
areas for research!

Good wishes for good work!

Jeffrey.

Dr. J.R.Day,
Associate Professor in Curriculum Studies, (Science)
Division of Science, Mathematics & Information Technology
Faculty of Education,
The University of Hong Kong,
Pok Fu Lam Road,
Hong Kong S.A.R.
China

tel: 852 28578546 (o) 94871514 (m)
fax: 852 28585649.
http://www.hku.hk/curric/jday/
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Ce message vous vient de la liste de diffusion AIDSPOLICYLAW.

Australia Censors AIDS Info Site

by Peter Hacker, 365Gay.com Newscenter
Sydney, Australia Bureau

April 21, 2003

(Sydney, Australia) AIDS activists in Australia are pressing for the
return of a website that promotes safe sex. The site, maintained by
the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations (http://www.afao.org.au) was
closed after the Department of Health and Ageing said it contained obscene
material.

Funding for the AFAO comes from the government agency. AFAO Education
Team Manager Dermot Ryan said the site was taken off-line during a
departmental review of its funding, according to gay newspaper The
Melbourne Star.

The site, which contained sexually explicit material was aimed at
promoting safe sex between men who have sex with men.

Part of the government funding review was a determination if the site
could be put back up.

Ryan said a government review process finished last week and the AFAO
hoped to know soon whether or not the site could be returned.
"At this stage we believe that access to the material may be outside
the guidelines for the Office of Film and Literature Classifications,
which is a part of approval procedures and are awaiting advise on
this," Ryan told the paper.

Last week, AIDS scientists in the US said they are being warned their
federal grants will be in jeopardy if they use words and phrases such
as "gay", "men who have sex with men".
________________

Dear all on the new list,

A good topic to get us started might be the recent NY Times article (pasted
below) about low HIV prevalence in the Philippines.

Question: Is prevalence likely to remain "low and slow," or will there be an
"explosion?" And how to explain low HIV prev. rates among MSM, FSW and IDU in
the Philippines?

Edward C Green
Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies
9 Bow Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
E-mail: EGreendc@...
__________________

Low Rate of AIDS Virus in Philippines Is a Puzzle

By SETH MYDANS

MANILA: Public health officials say they are stumped by a paradox in the
Philippines, where a very low rate of condom use and a very low rate of
H.I.V. infection seem to be going hand in hand.

AIDS-prevention efforts often focus on the use of condoms, but they are not
widely available here — and are mostly shunned — in this conservative Roman
Catholic country.

Without that first line of defense, experts can only guess at the reasons for
the low infection rate. No more than about 10,000 people are believed to be
infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, in a population of 84
million, and the relatively low rate is not thought to be a case of
underreporting.

"It's quite perplexing," said Zahidul Huque, who heads the United Nations
team group on H.I.V./AIDS for the Philippines. "We've been talking about it a
lot and frankly, we don't know why it's low. The potential for an explosion
is there."

This is particularly so because the Philippines is far from being a country
with closed borders. About one-tenth of the population works overseas, all of
them potential carriers of disease whenever they visit home.

Experts say a lucky combination of factors may for the moment have slowed the
arrival of an epidemic, including a low ratio of customers to sex workers,
low rates of certain other sexually transmitted diseases and limited
intravenous drug use.

"There is no strong, clear-cut factor that will tell us, this is the reason
why," said Jean-Marc Olivé, the World Health Organization representative for
the Philippines. "I think it's a number of different factors adding up. I
think they are lucky, but that's not at all the way to control AIDS."

As of January, government figures showed that just 1,810 people had tested
positive for H.I.V. The United Nations office on AIDS estimates that the
actual number may be closer to 9,400 — still an extraordinarily low rate of
about 0.01 percent.

In Vietnam, for example, with almost exactly the same population, and where
the epidemic is still thought to be in its early stages, 130,000 people are
infected H.I.V., according to the United Nations.

Conversely, Costa Rica has about the same number of people with H.I.V. and
AIDS as does the Philippines. But Costa Rica is just one- twentieth the size
of the Philippines, with 3.8 million people.

Another risk factor here is that little is being done to hold back a possible
epidemic. The word condom is almost taboo in a country where the Roman
Catholic church is both conservative and politically powerful.

"Whenever you talk about condoms it's a little bit difficult," said Dr.
Olive. The government has no AIDS-awareness program of its own and restricts
the public campaigns of independent family-planning groups.

One result is that in a country where more than half the population is of
reproductive age, only 23 percent of sexually active young men say they have
ever used a condom. Only 4 percent say they use condoms regularly. Only two
out of five sex workers say they use them regularly.

Like other experts, Dr. Olive said the low number of reported infections was
not simply the result of poor record-keeping.

"It's not a reporting issue," he said. "It's a real fact that we don't
understand really why AIDS infection is so low here in the Philippines."

The most frequently cited reason is that commercial sex workers have fewer
partners than their counterparts elsewhere. The average is about four per
week, according to a new government survey. Other studies suggest that a
relatively low proportion of men frequent sex workers.

Experts say other factors may be the small number of intravenous drug users
and a low prevalence of ulcerated sexually transmitted diseases — like
syphilis and herpes — that facilitate transmission of the AIDS virus. Anal
sex also appears to be less common.

Also, most men here are circumcised and there has been speculation in the
Philippines and elsewhere that this could be a factor in preventing infe
ction.

In the small city of Angeles, where about 1,600 women work in a thriving
red-light district, the director of the health center, Dr. Teresita Esguerra,
said a mass screening last year found five women to be infected. Because they
cannot afford the drugs needed to slow the progress of the disease, she said,
the clinic can do little more than offer them information and advice.

"They are advised to still work, because they have the right to work under
Philippine law," the doctor said. "They are properly counseled and properly
guided, but we do not advise them to stop working."

She said the women are encouraged to use condoms but complain that their
customers often object and that "because of financial reasons" the women do
not insist.
________________________

Sex Workers Forum Kerala
PTPN.E.31, PTP Nagar Post, Trivandrum, South India
Pin 695038
Phone #  ++91 + 471 + 2368142
E.mail:swfk@...

Dear Moderator,

The US "treatment" on IRAQ is posing several questions on War and Peace.We
would like to present our stand on war and peace as follows.
LOVE WITH NO BOUNDARIES

In these dark days of war and in the light of anti-war movement, we, the
Sexworkers of Kerala, are bringing out our position on war and anti-war
movement. We feel there are some subtle differences to be debated upon for
a better understanding of positions and the quality of peace we achieve.

Antiwar does not just mean anti-imperialism;
It is not by burning effigies and flags that we defeat imperialism;
Don't burn something that others revere.

We defeat imperialism not by war or hatred,
But by winning the hearts back of those who support it.
War and hate are the weapons or language of imperialism;
We can't wield or defend with it.

The powerful always wins in the war with forces;
Don't defeat but win them over with non-violence and love.

Antiwar means not supporting armies in our own country;
Antiwar means not supplying human power to form armies in the nations we live;
Antiwar means agitating for the reduction of budget of defense expenditure;
Antiwar means protesting against our own government when it goes to war;
Antiwar means not feeling proud when our country explodes a nuclear device;
Antiwar means feeling miserable when they invent a new weapon;
Antiwar does mean declaring defeat even before the start of war;
Antiwar does mean declaring that we will never defend even if attacked.

Antiwar means being an international citizen;
Antiwar means traveling to other countries and knowing them;
Antiwar means loving your neighbors as yourself;
Antiwar means recognizing the friend in others;
Antiwar means serving others without discrimination;
Antiwar means love between equals;
Antiwar means being free of communal and racial hate;
Antiwar means vowing never to use arms against anyone;
Antiwar means acts of bravery without arms;
Antiwar means limiting our own privileges;
Antiwar means defending the right of others;
Antiwar means anti-discrimination;
Antiwar means ending all stigmas;
Antiwar also means being antinational.

Know that you are of the same species;
Know that you are one of human species with a series of identities;
Know that all identities other than human aremirages;
Know that being man, woman, transgender or intersex is incidental;
Know that there are no strangers who oppress, but we oppress each other;
Know that love is the only medicine to cure the disease of war;
Know that a smile can bring a smile on the face of a stranger;
Know that any act of hate is the real enemy because imperialism thrives on it;
No strategy other than love and trust can win the movement against war.

Don't suppress but explore and unravel the beauty of sexuality;
Know the mystery of existence and exult in it;

Humility does not mean submission;
Submission in any form is servitude.

There is none superior or inferior to you;
Know that there are no god men or women;
Spirituality means making others feel equal to you;
Spirituality also means being one with the universe.

Excellence does not mean superiority;
Life means unlimited possibilities.

Differences do not mean strangeness; it is like eyes and ears, abilities to
bring qualities.
Differences do not mean strangeness but varieties of solutions.
Differences do not mean strangeness but revelation of possibilities.
Differences do mean that we all are unique and special, so precious.

Don't die for a cause but live for it and let others live for it.

Survival of our species remains with survival of other species;
Survival of the fittest means helping other species to survive.

Antiwar means not being anti-women;
Antiwar means not being anti-tribal;
Antiwar means not being anti-black;
Antiwar means not being anti-sexual minorities;
Antiwar means ending discriminatory laws in all countries.

Antiwar means not writing inflammatory articles in newspapers;
Antiwar means not preaching violence from podiums;
Antiwar means not spreading rumors against anyone;
Antiwar means ending the culture of violence in cinemas and dramas;
Antiwar means no visas and passports;
Antiwar also means reducing the number of laws and jails.

Antiwar means preserving other species;
Antiwar means limiting our own species;
Antiwar means knowing that there is nothing special being human;
Antiwar means knowing that we, humans are only complex not apex in evolution;
Antiwar means loving the rivers and mountains;
Antiwar means preserving the ecology we live in;
Antiwar means knowing that we belong to earth first;
Antiwar means not owning but sharing the world with others.

Antiwar also means not being anti to anything, not even war.

love

SEX WORKERS FORUM KERALA
Saradha,Nalini,Lissy,Saumini and Sivan
E-mail: <swfk@...>

3rd NFI Partners Regional Consultation Meeting
5th – 7th April 2003, New Delhi, India

Living with Dignity: Social Justice for All

Summary Report

Opening Ceremony
Introduced by Arif Jafar, Director of the NFI Regional Liaison Office
in Lucknow, the opening ceremony was performed by Shri Oscar
Fernandes, Lok Sabha MP and Convenor of the All Party Parliamentary
Committee on AIDS, along with his wife. This was followed by his
speech stressing the need to address the needs of those living with
HIV/AIDS, reducing stigma and discrimination, and ensuring
appropriate methods for preventing the spread of the epidemic.
Shivananda Khan, Executive Director and founder of NFI then gave the
welcome address.

Plenary Sessions
The first plenary session on Saturday morning has the theme Living
With Dignity. The speakers were Vijay Nair, Vice-President of Udaan,
former Vice-President of INP+, and founder member of NIPSHA (a
positive support network for those kothis living with HIV/AIDS), and
Anand Grover, Project Director of the Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS
Unit. Chairing this plenary session was Anjali Gopalan, Executive
Director of Naz Foundation India Trust.

Vijay Nair spoke on his discovery of his positive status, his fears
and concerns as a positive kothi, and the moving support of his
mother and family. His speech also addressed the needs of all the MSM
projects to develop appropriate care and support systems for their
constituents.

Anand Grover spoke on human rights and the laws affecting "sexual
minorities", and what steps are being taken to address these issues.
This included a discussion on the petition being filed in the Delhi
High Court on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code by Naz Foundation
India Trust. This Section deals with "carnal intercourse against the
order of nature" and has been used against homosexual activity.

The second plenary session on Sunday morning had the theme,
Masculinities, Sexualities and Vulnerability. The speakers were
Aditya Bondyopadhyay, Lawyer, human rights activist and NFI
consultant, as well as founder member of Bamon Development
Consultants. With him were Ashok Row Kavi, Chairperson and founder of
Humsafar Trust and Professor Peter Aggleton, Director of the Thomas
Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London,
UK. Chairing this session was Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Executive
Director of Prakriti.

Aditya Bondyopadhyay spoke of the systematic abuse and harassment of
kothis across South Asia from early childhood, the social
construction of masculinities and how different masculinities
experience different vulnerabilities in terms of social interactions
and HIV/AIDS. Kothis and hijras experience the highest
vulnerabilities to both, each reinforcing the other. Professor Peter
Aggleton spoke of the urgent need to work with men and masculinity in
the context of HIV/AIDS prevention and care, where we need to
understand the production of masculinities, frameworks of power and
resistance to hegemonic masculinity, breaking the silence on male-to-
male sex and develop more gender/sexuality equitable programmes.
Ashok Row Kavi followed this with an interesting presentation on
Masculinities and vulnerabilities. He discussed different sexual
identities and behaviors of Indian male giving the reference of
ancient texts.

The third plenary session on Monday morning had the theme of
Supporting Marginalised Collectivities, chaired by Calle Almedal,
Senior Advisor of the Partnerships Unit of UNAIDS in Geneva. This
plenary brought together a range of donor representatives to provide
a platform for Meeting delegates to understand donor perspectives on
supporting MSM sexual health programmes in the region and to ask
specific questions of the donors. Speakers included Sri Oscar
Fernandes, Convener of the All Party Parliamentary Committee on AIDS,
Chawalit Tantinimitkul, Programme Officer, FHI Asia Regional Office,
Bethanne Moskov, USAID Mission, India, Tim Martineau, Senior Health
Advisor, DFID India and Asa Andersson, Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor to
SIDA. What was clear from this session was the increasing importance
being given to MSM sexual health issues by all donors, and the
increasing investment on MSM HIV/AIDS issues being realised in the
region. Participants deemed this the most important plenary session
of the Meeting.

Satellite sessions
Three representatives from Hijra groups were invited to attend the
meeting specifically to participate in a key satellite session on how
to provide technical support for the development of hijra focus
sexual health interventions across India. The meeting was moderated
by Shale Ahmed of Bandhu Social Welfare Society in Bangladesh, which
provides technical assistance to Shusto Jibon, a hijra sexual health
service in Dhaka, and by Vijay Nair with experience of working with
hijras in Maharashtra. Hijra representatives expressed their needs
and viewpoints.

This satellite begins a process of dialogue with hijra
representatives across India to begin the development of technical
support from NFI and its partners to assist in the development of
hijra sexual health projects.  It was clear from the discussions and
previous documentation that MSM projects should not manage such
services but should assist in empowering hijras to develop their own
service provision.

A satellite meeting was supposed to be held on microbicides and
lubricants, but the Hijra technical support continued on, and so this
was cancelled.

On the Sunday, the satellite session focused on Hearing the missing
voices – empowerment and social justice for kothi-identified MSM.
This discussion explored the context of kothi lives, and included
issues of human rights abuse, social justice, and methodologies of
empowerment.

Following this, a discussion was held on a draft Meeting Charter on
Social Justice. A Working Group consisting of NFI, a number of its
partners as well as its technical advisors, had worked the on the
draft. The intention was to gain support from all the projects
present at the meeting for this Charter, and submit it to a range of
international, regional, national and state institutions. The Charter
and its contents were accepted in principle, but participants desired
that specific articles in the Charter should be linked with specific
UN conventions, guidelines or principles as already articulated in
numerous international documents signed by all UN signatories. It was
believed that this would provide a much stronger advocacy tool. It
was agreed that the draft Charter would go back to the working group
for further refinement and amendment and the final draft will be
circulated to all projects present at the meeting by end of April
2003.

Networking support
A special session was held for participants from a range of groups
from West Bengal to enhance collaboration between them, particularly
in regard to funding and service delivery so as to reduce competition
and enhance cooperation. A Calcutta Forum is to be established as an
output of this meeting.

A special session was held for delegates from south-east Asian
countries to identify This meeting was called on the request of FHI
Asia Regional Office to begin the process of identifying the needs of
the South-East Asia region in relation to MSM sexual health
programming, technical assistance, and any recommendations that
participants might have for future regional work. A brief report was
produced and forwarded onto FHI.

A session was also held to explore the development of the Indian
Network of Male Sex Workers and build links with the range of partner
agencies and other projects. Along with this an opportunity was
provided for bisexually identified persons to also meet and identify
their own needs and support mechanisms.

ARMAN Awards
This Consultation Meeting also gave the opportunity to
institutionalize a new international MSM award – The Arman Awards.
During the last Training of Trainers programme held by NFI in
September 2002 at the NFI Regional Liaison Office in Lucknow, India,
there were 15 projects from South Asia and Vietnam present. At this
course, participants agreed to form ARMAN – the Asia Regional MSM
AIDS Network that would link up all the MSM sexual health projects in
Asia as a broad network to stimulate discussion, information and
skills exchange and provide solidarity, empowerment and strength to
all MSM sexual health projects. The ARMAN Awards is an initial
attempt towards that goal.

Three awards were presented. The first award was for the person or
project that had done the most to advance the cause of ensuring
provision of appropriate services for MSM in their city, state,
country or region. The winner of this Award was Shale Ahmed,
Executive Director of Bandhu Social Welfare Society in Bangladesh,
who began BSWS in 1996 with two staff and a small drop-in in Dhaka,
and has taken BSWS since then to become the largest MSM sexual health
service provider in Asia, operating in 6 cities in Bangladesh.

The second award was deemed the ARMAN Human Rights Award, and was
given to Aditya Bondyopadhyay and Lok Prakash both of Bamon
Development Consultants and NFI consultants, for their sterling human
rights and advocacy work during the problems generated when the NFI
Regional Liaison Office Director was arrested along with his staff,
and the Regional Office closed. Their networking and advocacy skills
locally, nationally and internationally were key to ensuring their
release and the re-opening of the office.

The third award was for deemed the ARMAN Positive Award for the MSM
person who had worked extensively, both as a kothi and as a positive
person to strongly advocate on behalf of positive kothis. The award
was given to Vijay Nair, Vice President of Udaan, and founder member
of NIPSHA, a positive network for kothis.

It is intended that these Awards will be presented every two years
for these three categories, and a special Awards Committee will be
developed along with a process of selection for future Awards. The
initial choices for these Awards were made by NFI and by members of
its technical advisory network.

Workshops
Central aspects of the Meeting were the skills-building workshops.
Each was held for 3 days. NFI was fortunate enough to bring together
an extraordinary team of facilitators from a range of institutions to
provide their technical expertise for these workshops.

Voluntary Pre-and Post-Test Counselling For Self-Identified Kothis
and Other MSM
Currently the majority of the NFI MSM partner projects are not
offering this service, although it is rapidly becoming clear that the
issue of pre- and post-test counselling is becoming one of urgent
concern. However, the issues of social exclusion, marginalization,
stigmatisation, along with accessibility to appropriate treatment,
support and social services have not been adequately addressed by
VTCs or by HIV+ve groups. At the same time, partner agencies have not
adequately addressed these concerns, primarily focusing on prevention.

The workshop addressed this gap in appropriate service delivery by
taking participants through issues and needs around pre-and post-test
counselling, the actual test itself, social, psychological, physical,
and medical needs, and how these needs should be addressed to ensure
appropriateness particularly for gendered males such as kothis.

Facilitators:  Dr. Bitra George, Programme Manager (Technical), FHI,
India and Neelam Dang, Coordinator, Chelsea, New Delhi, India

Self-Help, Care and Support For Self-Identified Kothis Living with
HIV/AIDS
Self-identified kothis form population groups and collectivities,
which are socially excluded, marginalised, stigmatised and
disempowered. Being HIV+ve or living with AIDS adds even further
discrimination, not only by society at large, but also by the medical
and social work professions, and very often by members of their own
collectivities.  Nor can it be assumed that the fact of being HIV+ve
is enough for such persons to become an accepted part of Positive
support groups.

This workshop explored the range of issues and needs that not only
address the HIV positive status of self-identified kothis and hijras,
but also explored how their gendered identities affect these needs
and what steps need to be taken to develop self-help groups with
them, along with the necessary care and support programmes that are
appropriate to their specific needs.

Facilitators: K.K. Abraham, President, INP+, India and Geeta
Venugopal, Relationships Officer, INP+, India

Developing Operational Research Skills within MSM/Kothi Sexual Health
Projects
As more and more MSM CBO sexual health projects are developed, the
need to identify best practices, evolve appropriate strategies, as
well as to find solutions to what appear to be intractable problems
in promoting risk reduction among the different MSM frameworks
becomes an urgent necessity.

This workshop provided a skills-building programme for participants
to understand the basics of what is meant by operational research. It
explored how to identify key questions from the monitoring data that
is being collected and develop simple and easily replicable studies
to find answers and solutions to those questions that improve the
quality of service delivery as well as its capacity to reach more MSM
and build sustainable strategies of risk reduction.

Facilitators: Rajiv Dua, Senior Technical Officer, FHI, India and
Rajat Adhikari, Senior Research Officer, FHI, India

Reaching Non-Kothi MSM
The majority of the prevention and outreach work conducted by the NFI
partner agencies is with self-identified kothis, and through them,
their partners. Yet is understood that many non-kothi-identified MSM
also visit a range of sites, and that male-to-male sex goes in
neighbourhoods, hotels, as well as a range of all male institutions.

This workshop explored the range of dynamics of male-to-male sex
behaviours, what males are participating in such activities, and what
risk reduction strategies and methodologies would be possible, along
with developing a series of recommendations for action for partner
agencies to expand their MSM target populations in their service
delivery.

Facilitators: Shale Ahmed, Executive Director, Bandhu Social Welfare
Society, Bangladesh, and Deep Purkayastha, Project Director, Praajak
New Alipore Welfare Society, Calcutta, India

Advocacy and Social Justice For Kothis And Other MSM
Social justice and human rights issues for MSM are a complex matrix
of issues, concerns, and needs that reflect personal psycho-sexual
histories, economics, social-cultural polices and attitudes, as well
as legal concerns, that create a context for MSM, but particularly
for feminised males, of low-esteem, disempowerment, and
marginalisation that leads to further abuse, violence and social
exclusion.

The workshop explored these contexts, identifying issues and needs,
while developing a range of strategies that partner agencies can put
into place to respond to these concerns.

Facilitators: Elvarthi Manohar, Executive Director, Sangama,
Bangalore and Ashwini Sukthankar, activist and author

Developing a Behaviour Change Communication Strategy For Kothi/MSM
Sexual Health
Projects
The primary message given by HIV/AIDS projects, including our partner
agencies, reflects the concept of HIV/AIDS as a public health issue
and is based on disease prevention. Further these messages reflect a
construction of self as an independent individual acting in
isolation. Thus, the message is usually "use a condom and protect
yourself".
Despite the World Health Organisation defining sexual health as the
integration of the physical, emotional, intellectual and social
aspects of sexuality, the vast majority of risk reduction messages
still ignores the concept of WELL-BEING and focus on ILL-HEALTH.

The workshop explored alternate messages and communication strategies
for risk-reduction among MSM as a part of a broader concept of
wellbeing.

Facilitators: Vaishali Mahendra, Programme Office, Population Council
(Horizons Project), India, and Rajesh Jha, Vice-President, EPOS India

Masculinities, Sexualities and MSM
The primary target population which our partner agencies focus on are
self-identified kothis, and through them, their panthi partners.

A central issue of concern is how kothis identify with the feminine
as a performative role, and the conflicting situations, both
emotional and social, that such roles place them in. By linking the
kothi identify with the feminine, and then linking the feminine with
the female, kothis see themselves as NOT-MEN, while panthis are
perceived (and perceive themselves) as MEN.

This gender construct generates enormous psychological self-damage,
while at the same time increases risky behaviours with personal and
societal impacts. It further disavows other frameworks of sexualities
and behaviours, such as `bisexual behaviour', a `dubli/do-paratha'
identity, and so on.

This workshop explored the context of kothi identities within a
construct of multiple masculinities towards developing an empowering
sense of self, awareness and behaviour change.

Facilitators: Dalip Daswani, Independent Consultant, Pune, India and
Azizul Haque, Programmes Director, Bandhu Social Welfare Society,
Bangladesh

Monitoring and Evaluation
All partner agencies have monitoring mechanisms as part of the
project work. While NFI has developed a standard replicable
monitoring package, donors and government agencies often have their
own monitoring systems. At the same time, partner agencies have
experienced difficulties in understanding and implementing the use of
monitoring data for evaluation of impact and sustainability.

This workshop explored differences in monitoring systems, and how
effective evaluation methodologies can be developed, as well as
working towards developing a common system of monitoring and
evaluation for all the partner projects.

Facilitators: Dr. Ravi Verma, Programme Associate, Population Council
(Horizons Project), India, Kim Mulji, Director, UK Office, NFI

Kothi And Other MSM Sex Work, Poverty and Exclusion
Within south Asia, male sex workers operating at public sites are
primarily kothi-identified, but not exclusively so. Most are from low-
income groups where poverty and support for their families drive much
of their sex work. This is not ignore other types of male sex
workers, such as malaishias of Pakistan and the boys who operate
through massage parlours and hotels, many of whom offer their
services to both male and female clients. In other words, there
several frameworks of male sex work.

This workshop explored these frameworks, the reasons for male sex
work, the various risks and issues involved, focusing on poverty
alleviation. It will develop strategies for working with male sex
workers and reduce risks for HIV/STI infection that are based on a
framework of wellbeing.

Facilitators: Paramita Bannerji, independent consultant, Calcutta,
India and Maya Ganesh, independent consultant, New Delhi, India

Donors
The following donors supported this Meeting
DFID
Family Health International
HIVOS
International HIV/AIDS Alliance
Swedish International Development Agency
UNAIDS

The National AIUDS Trust, United Kingdom has launched a new website to
tackle HIV related Stigma and Discrimination. Please go to
www.areyouhivprejudiced.org

Regards

Keith
_____________________________________________
KEITH WINESTEIN
Campaign Manager
NAT (National AIDS Trust), United Kingdom
T: ++ 44 (0) 20 7814 6724 (direct line); F: ++ 44 (0) 20 7216 0111
E-mail: <keith.winestein@...>

ARE YOU HIV PREJUDICED?: To learn the facts, go to www.areyouhivprejudiced.org
By ending ignorance, we'll end prejudice. For 24 hour confidential information
on HIV, AIDS and safer sex call 0800 567 123

7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP)
November 27 to December 1, 2003

Welcome from the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee
Seven years have passed since the disastrous earthquake that killed
more than 5,000 people in 1995, and Kobe is now ready to host the 7th
International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) from
November 27 to December 1, 2003, to welcome its delegates and to send a message
of hope and solidarity to our region and the world.

The HIV epidemic, present throughout the Asia-Pacific region, is on the verge of
an explosive expansion. Even though the history of the  epidemic is relatively
young in the region, it has hit susceptible populations  hard, and its impact is
evident. The potential of HIV becoming more widespread  among youth remains a
serious concern, and the actions taken now will likely determine the future 
course of the epidemic in the region.

The goals of the 7th ICAAP, following the tradition of past ICAAP, are  to
increase the understanding of the epidemic and related issues in the  region,
share the lessons and hopes learned, and gain insights applicable to future
efforts. Under the theme "Bridging Science and Community", the  Congress,
encouraging a greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS and other
affected communities, will present the most recent achievements in  science
and community work and will encompass efforts and activities related to
prevention, care and treatment at all levels.

The 7th ICAAP will be held in 2003, the year by which the Declaration of
Commitment of the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in  2001
requires member states to establish strategies to meet their national
goals. We are privileged to invite delegates from throughout the region and
the world to share their wisdom and to strengthen our solidarity in the
fight against HIV/AIDS in what is sure to be a milestone year of global efforts.

Tadamitsu Kishimoto
Chair, The 7th ICAAP Organizing Committee
****
The 7th ICAAP welcomes abstracts and proposals for oral Sessions, Poster
Presentations, Skills Building Workshops and Cultural Programs. There
is only one Form for all of the above sessions regardless of the content
of the abstract or proposal.

There are four types of abstracts/proposals:

1. Abstracts for Oral Sessions and Poster Sessions
(A): suitable for scientific research
2. Abstracts for Oral Sessions and Poster Sessions

(B): suitable for experience
3. Proposals for Skills Building Workshop
4. Proposals for Cultural Program
Each of the above abstracts or proposals should follow the styles
illustrated on the next page.

Deadline : April 15, 2003
Submission via website  Submission via the Congress website is strongly
encouraged. for more information, please visit the ICAAP website:
www.icaap7.jp

National workshop on HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination

Dear Forum members,

This is the reminder for the National workshop on `HIV/AIDS related
stigma and discrimination' to be held on 5th April 2003 at Institute
of Social Sciences, 8 Nelson Mandela Road, VASANT KUNJ, New Delhi. 70.

(The phone number of ISS is 26121902, 26121909. If you need any
further information you may please contact the project Coordinator
through 9818136412)

Registartion starts at 9.30 am on 5th April. The workshop  will be
inaugurated by Dr. B. Ekbal, Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala
and Chaired by Mr. K.K Abraham, the President of INP+

As part of the Situational Analysis of HIV/AIDS related Stigma
anddiscrimination in the Asia Pacific initiated by Deakin University
Melbourne with support from the Ford Foundation, six countries are
studied, by using the UNAIDS (200) protocol for the identification of
discrimination aganist people living with HIV/AIDS to explore the
institutional factors that support stigma and discrimination.

Using the UNAIDS protocol, the study has been conducted in
cities/districts, one each from China, India, Indonesia, Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam. Kerala Health Studies and Research Centre
(KHSRC) have completed the Indian part of the study in Kerala with
the technical support from INP+ and CPK+. The proposed National
workshop is organised to finalise the report on the HIV/AIDS related
Stigma and Discrimination and is part of a series of workshops being
held in the countries studied. It will also have presentations on the
prevailing situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

All are invited. However, those of you who have not confirmed
yourparticipation, kindly do it at the earliest. Though there is no
fee to be paid for registration, a confirmation of your participation
would help us in the logistical arrangements. We are sorry that we
are not in a position to provide   you with scholarships.

The draft programme out line is as follows:

09.30 am Registration
10.00 am Inaugural Session
10.45 am Public Health Implications of HIV/AIDS Stigma and
Discrimination in the Asia-Pacific an overview of issues Dr. Joe
Thomas
11.15 am Arbitrary vs. Legitimate discrimination- Dr. Daniel Reidpath

11.45 am Presentation of the results of the study in Kerala

12.15 pm Comments on the study
01.00 pm Lunch

01.45 pm Strategies and formulation of policy suggestions, follow up
action. (To be facilitated by PWN+ CPK+)

03.15 pm Valedictory session

04.00 pm Winding up

Looking forward to meeting you all

Dr. Joy Elamon
Country Coordinator
Executive Director,
Kerala Health Studies and Research Centre,
AN-318, Adarsh Nagar,
Pattom Palace P.O., Trivandrum, Kerala, INDIA.
E mail: khsrc@... Phone: 91-471-2552094 Fax: 91-471-2552883

E mail: joyelamon@...
Delhi Mobile Phone: 9818136412

Dear Participants,

We thank you for your interest and wish to inform you that due to overwhelming
interest we have extended the last date to 30th March 2003.

For participants who need visa and have send in their applications but have not
forwarded us contact details of the Malaysian embassy in their country to so
immediately.

For those who have yet to send in their application forms please do so latest by
30th March 2003

The Ministry of Health Malaysia will be holding an exhibition relevant to them.
Participants who are interested in submitting posters may do so. The posters
should highlight best practices on issues relating to youth, gender and stigma
in their  respective organiztion/country. Each country will be given a 4' x 6'
board to display exhibits. Kindly submit a hard copy of the poster (A# paper) to
the secretariat upon registration.

Particpants who are interested in performing (cultural show/ dance/ sketch)
during the closing ceremony may do. The performance should not be more than 7
mins long and particpants are required to bring their tapes etc. Those
interested are requested to inform the Foundation by the 30th.

More information will be send to all participants by the end of the first of
April.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Melaka.

Regards,


Ms Varsha Ajmera
Operations Officer
E-mail: <wyf@...>

Dear Ms. Varsha,

I am the Prevention and Vulnerability Adviser in UNAIDS Geneva.  I am
responsible for the areas of young people, sex work, condom programming,
orphans, and gender.  I have been informed of your conference, and I am very
interested in the activities you will be having.  I am from Asia too (originally
from the Philippines but worked in Thailand for many years).  I wish you good
luck and hope you will be in touch.

Regards.

Aurorita Mendoza
Prevention and Vulnerability Adviser
Strategic Information Unit
UNAIDS Geneva
Mendoza, Aurorita" <mendozaa@...>
tel:  41 22 7914508
___________________________
Dear Mendoza,

  Thanks for the mail and i look forward to meeting you. Your work at UNAIDS must
have given you an indepth knowledge of the topic at hand. More information can
be found at our website at www.wyf.org.my. The application form is also
available online.

Regards,

Ms Varsha
wyf@...

ASEAN Regional Workshop on HIV/AIDS: Addressing Stigma and Discrimination”

The World Youth Foundation in cooperation with UNAIDS, Ministry of Youth &
Sports Malaysia, World Assembly of Youth, Malaysian AIDS Council and the
Ministry of Health Malaysia will be organizing the ASEAN Regional Workshop on
HIV/AIDS: Addressing Stigma and Discrimination” from the 25-27th April 2003 in
Melaka, Malaysia. Among the topics that will be discussed during the workshop
are :

Stigma and Discrimination
Young Women Priorities and HIV/AIDS
Involving Men to Make a Difference
Information, Education and Networking for Safe Behaviour
Networking and Working Partnership
Skills Building Workshop

The Objective
· To provide a forum for networking, sharing of knowledge experiences and ideas
on initiatives to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS among youth and youth serving
organizations and other stakeholders.
· To promote cross-country exchange of best practices for implementing
youth-friendly health services in the ASEAN region
· To identify and develop specific actions that can be implemented to support
young people infected/affected by HIV/AIDS by incorporating action that will
fight HIV/AIDS related discriminations.
· To involve the media in the dissemination of the findings of the workshop

The Expected Output
· To draft and adopt the ASEAN Youth Forum Declaration blueprint to combat the
problems identified affecting youth
· To evolve a networking structure and partnership among youth and stakeholders
in the field of youth programmes and activities in the ASEAN region by the
development of mail discussion group /website
· To agree on concrete plans for the implementation and follow-ups on national
and regional levels
· Formation of the ASEAN Regional Youth Network on HIV that will serve as an
advocacy group

Participation
· Youth representatives from various national youth coordination councils in the
ASEAN region.
· Young people from the various youth bodies in Malaysia; preference will be
given to youth workers/leaders
· National AIDS programme managers serving as focal points on HIV/AIDS
·  Representatives of collaborating Ministries and international
non-governmental organizations
working in youth related aspects of HIV/AIDS programmes

Those interested in participating are requested to write to the Foundation at
wyf@... for application forms.

The Foundation will provide local hospitality and internal travel only. The
online application will be available at the Foundation’s website
(http://www.wyf.org.my) from 6th March onwards.

Ms Varsha
Operations Officer
World Youth Foundation
e-MAIL:  <wyf@...>

ASEAN Youth Workshop on HIV/AIDS

The World Youth Foundation in cooperation with UNAIDS, Ministry of
Youth & Sports Malaysia, WAY, Malaysian AIDS Council and the Ministry
of Health Malaysia will be organizing the ASEAN Regional Workshop on
HIV/AIDS: Addressing Stigma and Discrimination" from the 25-27th
April 2003 in Melaka, Malaysia

Among the topics that will be discussed during the workshop includes:
Stigma and Discrimination; Young Women Priorities and HIV/AIDS;
Involving Men to Make a Difference; Information, Education and
Networking for Safe Behaviour etc.

For information contact
Ms Varsha at wyf@...

Quiet Storm

A pictorial monograph on the lives of People Living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHA) in South and North East Asia. The book is meant to be a
tribute to the will of millions of people living with HIV/AIDS,
fighting stigma and discrimination and leading the campaign against
the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the forefront. It aims to advocate for the
de-stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS and the protection of the rights of
PLWHA.

Produced in partnership with INP+ (Indian Network for People Living
with HIV/AIDS), APN+ (Asia Pacific Network of People Living with
HIV/AIDS) and PLWHA groups in the region.

Publisher: UNDP REACH Beyond Borders, Regional HIV and Development
Programme for South and North East Asia.  2002.  pages: 60

Contact:

REACH Beyond Borders
UNDP Regional HIV and Development Programme - South and North East
Asia
hivproj.in@...

To download a pdf version of the monograph visit the following url:

http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-7001.html