Male Sexual Health and HIV in Asia and the Pacific International Consultation 2006: Risk and Responsibilities

In recognition of the need for building and strengthening interventions addressing HIV-related vulnerabilities among MSM in Asia and The Pacific, a Male Sexual Health and HIV in Asia and the Pacific International Consultation was being organized in New Delhi, India from September 23 to 26, 2006, with the theme of ‘’Risks & Responsibilities.’’

This international Consultation had brought together governments, policy-makers, donors, researchers, grassroots and community based organisations across Asia and The Pacific to provide a space for dialogue and learning, to enable expansion, strengthening and scaling up of strategies addressing male sexual health and related HIV vulnerabilities. In addition, the consultation has had provided an opportunity to inform and develop strategic advocacy initiatives and deliberate on key policies related to these issues.

OBJECTIVE / OUTCOME / REPORT / SPEECHES

OBJECTIVE

The main objectives of this Consultation were:

Generating and sharing knowledge on epidemiological, technical, social, policy, rights and resources issues relevant to male-to-male sexual behaviours and HIV in Asia and the Pacific: ‘’What do we know?’’ and ‘’What do we need to know?’’
Identification of obstacles and challenges that impede the design and implementation of specific HIV programmes and services for men who have sex with men
Informing the formulation of strategies for improving and scaling up of strategic HIV prevention, treatment, care and support interventions and services, specifically for men who have sex with men.
The larger goal of this Consultation is to catalyse and enhance coordinated responses through increased commitment among national and international stakeholders, in tandem with the needs of men who have sex with men. This would lead to intensified HIV and sexual health interventions with appropriate and supportive policies and adequate funding.

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OUTCOME

The outcome of the Consultation included:

A Declaration of Commitment by policymakers, civil society and donors, called Delhi Declaration
An agreed set of principles on male sexual health, relating to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support;
An enhanced knowledge base on the technical, cultural, social and policy issues relevant to male-to-male sexual behaviours in Asia and the Pacific, which may take the form of technical resource kits;
Recommendations for action regarding epidemiology and other strategic information, intervention strategies, rights and legal issues, and resources allocation, In short: strategies that will facilitate and assure inclusion of male-to-male sexuality in national and sub-national HIV frameworks for action;
Identification of key strategic advocacy initiatives and policies that need to be developed and maintained in relation to male sexual health and vulnerability to HIV;
A pan Asia and Pacific network of governments, organisations and institutions to generate and share strategic information and coordinate advocacy for policy changes, social justice, rights, and an equitable allocation of public, donor and private sector resources for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for men who have sex with men. This network will ensure that male sexual health issues remain on the nations‘ HIV agenda in Asia and The Pacific and at all relevant national, regional and global HIV conferences and meetings.

The last point of the outcome is the rationale why APCOM Foundation is founded.

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REPORT

The technical report of the Consultation contains the meeting records, in-country processes leading up to the Consultation, and the findings from the tripartite dialogue between community, government, and funding support agencies encapsulated within 8 Working Groups divided based on the geographical location of the country and the scale of the population of and economic development in relation to its HIV prevalence rate, along with Delhi Declaration and the keynote speeches. The report can be downloaded here.

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SPEECHES

During the Consultation, high-level advocates and opinion leaders delivered statements to address the challenges to curb HIV epidemic among MSM communities in Asia. You can download the speeches below.