ICYO

YOUTH INFORMATION

                           No: 2008/27

(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)

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ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.      

ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.

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HEALTH-ASIA:

Report Faults Gov't Complacency on AIDS

By Nergui Manalsuren

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 26 (IPS) - Some 10 million Asian women sell sex, and at least 75 million men buy it regularly, while male-to-male sex and drug injecting add another 20 million or so to the number of those at high risk of HIV infection, says the first report by the Commission on AIDS in Asia.

Chakravarthi Rangarajan, the chair of the commission, said Wednesday (26 March 2998) at the United Nations that these are the main causes of new HIV infections that regional governments need to address through targeted policies.

The independent commission of nine members was set up in June 2006 and given an 18-month mandate to study and assess the impact of AIDS in Asia, and to recommend strategies for a stronger response to HIV and AIDS.

Nearly five million people are living with HIV in Asia, with 440,000 people dying each year, and an additional eight million people will become newly infected by 2020, warns the report, "Redefining AIDS in Asia".

However, the current inadequate response by governments suggests that number will rise to about 20 million in the next five years, concluded the commission.

"The glass is half full in the sense that in June there will be a high-level meeting in the General Assembly on reviewing progress -- and there's progress everywhere, but it is very variable," the executive director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, said in response to a question by IPS. "There are three million people on antiretroviral therapy [worldwide], but there are well over six million who need it."

"I think it is achievable in most countries, but I'm not optimistic for countries that are in conflict, because if there's no peace, there's no progress," he added.

 

Although there are examples of effective and focused HIV responses in Asia, in many cases, the response has lagged behind or faltered for long periods.

Political engagement and support are vital prerequisites for setting the agenda and driving a potentially effective response. When dealing with issues of stigma and discrimination, and overcoming taboos against the public discussion of sex and sexuality, the role of leaders cannot be underestimated, experts on the commission stressed.

In response to the commission's report, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that Asia is home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but that "we will never see equitable progress if some parts of population are still denied basic health and human rights -- people living with HIV."

He said that Asian governments should amend outdated laws criminalizing the most vulnerable sections of society, and take all the measures needed to ensure they live in dignity by implementing the recommendations of the commission.

According to the report, some far-sighted politicians have increased their own commitment and started lobbying others in power to push for more resources and accountability. However, only in two Asian countries has a head of state played a prominent role in the response and officially provided leadership to the national AIDS programme.

Frika Iskandar, a member of the commission and AIDS activist in Asia, who is herself living with HIV, told IPS that in her native Indonesia, with about 200,000 HIV-positive people, the disease is extremely low on the government's agenda, with just a fraction of the national budget invested in AIDS programmes.

 
"The Indonesian government is more and more responding to AIDS now, but it is not enough, we need more internal funding, not only external," she said.

She pointed out that the report of the commission defines a new role for civil society irrespective of the political structure in Asian countries. Community organizations of people living with HIV and marginalized groups like sex workers, drug users, men who have sex with men and transgender people must be involved not just in delivery of services but at the policy-making level.

By spending 50 cents to one dollar per capita, 80 percent coverage of HIV prevention, treatment, and care and livelihood security programmes can be achieved, the commission said.

The report says that Asian countries have the resources, the technology, and organizational capacity for a vastly scaled up response to the AIDS epidemic. What is required is greater political will by the governments in Asia and meaningful involvement of community-based organizations in the response.

"We need to take a long-term view of the AIDS epidemic, which is not going to go away," Piot said. "It's been around for 26 years since [the HIV virus was first discovered]," he said. "That's why we need to continue investing in R&D. So how we do it needs to be redefined."

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Youth Information is published by

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)

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Email: icyoindia@... / icyo@...

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Our goal:
To improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in their programmes and activities

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN), Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.