Inputs of Civil Society to the AWP III Presented by Shiba Phurailatpam On behalf of Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS (also known as the Seven Sisters) is a broad-based alliance of seven regional networks representing and working with communities vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

We are:
Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+)
Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)
Asia Pacific Rainbow (APR-LGBTIQ Network)
Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)
Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility in Asia (CARAM-Asia)
AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) and
Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations (APCASO)

The Coalition is pleased to continue its engagement with the ASEAN Initiative on HIV/AIDS. We take this opportunity to reflect, and more importantly, to put forward our recommendations and inputs to the Second Special Summit on HIV/AIDS.

We acknowledge the efforts undertaken by the ASEAN to carry out a regional response to HIV/AIDS, as signified in the ASEAN Summit Declaration on HIV/AIDS, signed by State/Government leaders at the ASEAN Special Session on HIV/AIDS held in Brunei Darussalam in November 2001. In the last five years, we have seen the response to HIV and AIDS in the region, with some countries able to develop policies and implement prevention programmes and set up care, support and treatment facilities.

While these efforts are given due recognition, the review of the ASEAN Work Programme II reflects that the actions undertaken have not achieved many of the intended objectives.

The populations of ASEAN countries, particularly those coming from vulnerable communities such as men having sex with men, transgenders, drug users, sex workers, migrants, mobile populations and prisoners, among others, are more at risk than ever. While we have seen government leaders who have moved forward and proactively undertaken responses to critical issues related to

Association of South East Asian Nations. ASEAN, established on 8 August 1967, is comprised of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.