APCOM, as part of the Seven Alliance shared the regional survey synthesis, reflecting the valuable priorities and recommendations shared by communities and civil society organizations across the region, as part of the webinar series for the HLM Community Briefing for Asia and the Pacific.
Full report access here
Policy Priorities for the 2026 HLM from Asia and the Pacific
The survey findings point to a set of clear and interrelated policy priorities that should be reflected in the 2026 HLM Political Declaration, grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
First, there is a strong and consistent call to institutionalize community-led responses within national HIV systems. This goes beyond recognition of community contributions and requires formal integration into planning, financing, and implementation frameworks. Communities must be positioned not as implementers of externally designed programmes, but as equal partners in shaping and delivering the response.
Second, addressing stigma, discrimination, and punitive legal frameworks is identified as a prerequisite for progress. Respondents emphasize that structural barriers—such as criminalization and discriminatory practices in healthcare—continue to undermine service uptake and outcomes. Legal and policy reform is therefore essential to create enabling environments for effective HIV responses.
Third, ensuring equitable access to comprehensive HIV services remains a central priority. This includes not only expanding coverage, but also improving quality, continuity, and relevance of services across the prevention–treatment–care continuum. Differentiated, people-centred approaches must be systematically applied to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Fourth, securing sustainable financing for HIV and community systems is critical. The Political Declaration should include clear commitments to increase both domestic and international investment, with explicit allocation for community-led responses and systems strengthening.
Finally, there is a need to strengthen accountability mechanisms, particularly through the institutionalization of community-led monitoring. Embedding these approaches within national systems can ensure that services are responsive, equitable, and continuously improved based on real-time evidence.
See also:
Other resources:
More information here:
Read the full Civil Society Statement of Priorities for the 2026 United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS
How Communities and Civil Society Can Influence the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS
What APCOM did at the 2021 HLM
