The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) is a regional coalition of MSM and HIV community-based organisations, the government sector, donors, technical experts and the UN system. The main purpose is advocating for political support and increases in investment and coverage of HIV services in Asia Pacific. APCOM promotes principles of good practice and lessons learnt by bringing together representatives from diverse groups in an effort to share experience, knowledge and expertise.
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Defining "MSM"

“Men who have sex with men” (MSM) is an inclusive public health term used to define the sexual behaviours of males having sex with other males, regardless of gender identity, motivation for engaging in sex or identification with any or no particular ‘community’. The words 'man' and 'sex' are interpreted differently in diverse cultures and societies as well as by the individuals involved. As a result, the term MSM covers a large variety of settings and contexts in which male to male sex takes place.

The Goals of APCOM

Increased investment: from governments, donors and civil society groups and communities in appropriate research and effective interventions for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for men who have sex with men and transgenders in the Asia Pacific region.

Scaled up programmatic, geographic and comprehensive coverage: of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support interventions for men who have sex with men and transgenders in the Asia Pacific.

Strengthen the evidence-base for advocacy, policy development, programming and reducing societal, legal, and institutional obstacles for the above.

Performer at World AIDS Day event in Kuala Lumpur

Participants from the Pacific at 200 Forum in Bali

Advocacy in Action

Overcoming legal barriers to comprehensive prevention among MSM and TG in Asia Pacific

Report from the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Symposium (August 2009)

A new publication on legal responses and MSM and TG in Asia Pacific is now available. The “Overcoming legal barriers to comprehensive prevention among men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific” Symposium was jointly convened by UNDP and the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) to discuss how effective and comprehensive HIV prevention among men who have sex with men and transgender people can take place in a conducive and enabling legal environment. The report is being followed up by a comprehensive review of laws relating to MSM and TG in the Asia Pacific currently underway. Read the full report.

Click above to go to full report

Picture of Law, Policy & HIV report with click thru to report

Click above to go to the full Law, Policy & HIV report

Law, Policy & HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Implications on the Vulnerability of MSM, FSWs and IDU

From AIDS Data Hub

The HIV epidemic in the Asia‐Pacific region is centred around unprotected paid sex, sharing of contaminated needles and unprotected sex between meni. Indeed, HIV prevalence among sex workers, injecting drug users (IDUs) and men who have sex with men (MSM) is often significantly higher than in the general population, making these groups most‐at‐risk populations (MARPs). In this region, HIV prevalence of anywhere between 20% and 85% has been reported among injecting drug users in several countries, including China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnamii. Moreover, countries, such as the Philippines – which did not report injecting drug use as being related to HIV transmission before 2005 – has since detected HIV among this populationiii. The prevalence of HIV infection among MSM, wherever it has been measured, is also high throughout much of the region. The 2009 Universal Access report reveals that HIV prevalence was as high as 29% in Myanmar, 9% in Vietnam and 7% in Indiaiv. Sex workers are also a significant component of the Asia‐Pacific epidemic, with HIV prevalence rates of – for instance – 18% in Myanmar, 13% in Cambodia and 10% inIndonesia.

Read the full report.

Links to APCOM activities at ICAAPIX in Bali

Shivananda Khan OBE calls for immediate action at the 200 Forum

The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) conducted a full-day forum on August 8, 2009 on the unique challenges posed by HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders (TG) in the region. The interactive consultation was an official pre-conference activity of the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAPIX) in Bali, Indonesia. APCOM coordinated and participated in many additional activities during and around the international consultation.

Links to stories about each activity, including all presentations and some key speeches, can be found by clicking here or on the 200 Forum logo (see right).

Click on logo to go to APCOM 200 Forum page including links to speeches and presentations

From the Governing Board

Evidence of the increasing HIV burden that MSM are carrying is finally coming to light, and is now beginning to influence policy making. At last, some governments, donors, and the UN system are taking leadership in scaling up effective responses. A window of opportunity exists in the region right now, and APCOM intends to make a concerted effort to ensure MSM are included in the drive for universal access.

Shivananda is the APCOM Chairperson and Chief Executive of Naz Foundation International and works from their Regional Office in Lucknow, India.

Due to language barriers, many Chinese groups cannot access international support. APCOM provides a platform to share experiences with others and keeps the Chinese MSM community up to date on issues. APCOM also can help reach out to the Chinese government, providing a good mechanism to aid decision making. My burden is heavy, I know, to work behalf of Chinese MSM as it is such a huge population but APCOM will help me to be successful in playing this important bridging role.

Zhen Li is the APCOM Community Representitive for China, co-founder of Beijing Gender Health Education Institute (BGGEI) and is now coordinator of the Civil Society Program of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in China.

We, at Hivos, believe in the power of organisations like APCOM, in which a broad coalition works together to improve the situation of MSM and TG in Asia Pacific. We believe that the work APCOM is doing can bring the change that is needed and are proud to support and be part of this important and exciting process.

Paul is the Programme Officer for LGBT Rights and MSM-HIV for Hivos, an APCOM donor partner, and serves as a Donor Sector Representitive on the Board.