The
AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP), is
an independent, non-governmental body representing
organisations from Asia and the Pacific working
in close collaboration with experts in diverse
areas of HIV/AIDS. On behalf of ASAP, I am writing
to invite your organisation to join us in re-establishing
ASAP as a significant voice of organisations working
on HIV/AIDS in the Asia/Pacific region.
ASAP,
as you may be aware, was born out of the first
International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the
Pacific (ICAAP) held in Canberra in 1990. As ICAAP
custodian, ASAP has been vitally instrumental
in ensuring the continuing success of Congresses
in New Delhi, Chiang Mai, Manila, Kuala Lumpur
and Melbourne. Preparations are underway for the
next ICAAP in Kobe, Japan from 1 to 5 July 2005.
We are working together to see that the Kobe ICAAP
would also be a success like previous ICAAPs.
ASAP’s continued advocacy campaign, through
ICAAP and many other projects and activities,
supports the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
It is also on the lookout for more effective strategies
that enhance political commitment translating
into action toward eliminating HIV/AIDS.
At
the commencement of 2003 the Executive Committee
of ASAP embarked upon a strategy of re-institutionalisation
in order to assure greater outreach and an interactive
relationship with organisations working against
HIV/AIDS. For these reasons and, consistent with
ASAP’s previous announcement, due to an
absence of financial viability in continuing with
individual memberships, an important change has
occurred to the membership category. This change
replaces individual membership with institutional/organisational
membership of ASAP.
We
assume you have worked in the response to the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, at national, regional or global
level or, if you have previously attended an ICAAP
Congress you may have at one stage been a member
of ASAP. Thus, you will be familiar with the important
work of ASAP and its linkages with many organisations
including the International AIDS Society and UNAIDS.
The
new category of ‘organisational’ membership
means that organisations, rather than individuals,
will be ASAP members. The important aspects of
this change are to ensure that:
| 1. |
ASAP meets its aims, objectives and mission
thereby improving its advocacy work toward
a more effective response to the HIV/AIDS
epidemic; and, |
| |
|
| 2. |
ASAP
contributes towards a more representative
status for organisations, and creates strategic
linkages between a broad range of civil society
actors working in HIV/AIDS. |
Each
organisation that chooses to become an ASAP institutional
member will benefit through future ICAAP Congresses
and the huge networking mechanisms that each ICAAP
presents. We are also hopeful that together with
the expertise harboured within ASAP’s Executive
Committee ranks, there will be opportunities for
improved dialogue and shared opportunities to
make our collective response. In this regard,
ASAP would like to make it clear that we are striving
to provide bridges that do not currently exist
and hence are not seeking to replace any existing
organisational networks
In order to contribute towards greater communication
and understanding, the organisations will meet
and endorse the ASAP necessary terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions are primarily to energise
both the linkages with the member organisations
and also support the vision, mission, aims and
objectives of ASAP.
Those organisations interested to join will pay
a yearly fee which, at present, ranges from US$50/year
for non-OECD (developing) nations to USD$200/year
for OECD (developed) member states.
An ASAP member organisation will have the privilege
to nominate a representative who may be elected
to the voting Executive Committee. This Committee
will include at least one person who is openly
HIV positive, if available.
ASAP’s most recent publication Prevention
and Treatment: You can’t have One Without
the Other relates to the basic need of balancing
Prevention and Treatment Interventions. A copy
of this publication is available for downloading
from our shared website www.7sisters.org
that we share with the Seven Sisters Coalition.
The Seven Sisters is a network of seven organisations
(Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS,
Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers, Asia Pacific
Council of AIDS Service Organisations, Asian Harm
Reduction Network, Coo-ordination of Action Research
on AIDS & Mobility, Asia Pacific Network of
Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals & Transgenders and
ASAP) engaged in a multi-pronged struggle against
HIV/AIDS and with whom we have consulted over
the changes referred to above.
If
your organisation is interested in becoming an
ASAP member, please complete the application
form below or which you may down load from
our website. Your support will make us all stronger.
Your membership will further consolidate the gains
against HIV/AIDS and assure a mutually beneficial
future collaboration.
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NEW - (Colombo, 19 January 2007) The AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) and UNAIDS have met today in Colombo, Sri Lanka as members of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) to the 8 th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) which is scheduled to be held in Colombo between 19-23 August 2007. 
