Background
The birth of an Asia Pacific region-wide coalition
In recognition of the need to build, strengthen and increase interventions addressing HIV-related vulnerabilities of males who have sex with males and transgenders in Asia and the Pacific, the Male Sexual Health and HIV in Asia and the Pacific International Consultation, Risks and Responsibilities, was held in New Delhi, India in 2006.
This International Consultation brought together 380 people from 26 countries - government officials, policy-makers, donors, researchers, grassroots and community based organisations across Asia and the Pacific. It provided opportunities for dialogue and learning in order to enable increased investment and the strengthening and scale up of strategies to address male sexual health related, in particular, to HIV. The Consultation also provided an opportunity to inform and develop strategic advocacy initiatives through deliberations on key policies related to these issues.
The Consultation ended with participants calling for the formation of a regional alliance of civil society groups, HIV and AIDS organisations, MSM and transgender networks, along with international donor, development and government agencies. The mandate for the coalition was clear: strongly advocate for all activities needed that will increase investment for rapid scale up of coverage of HIV prevention, care and support services for MSM populations across the region.
With initial funding and support from Hivos and UNAIDS Regional Support Team - Asia and the Pacific and under a fiscal arrangement with Naz Foundation International (NFI), the alliance was named the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) and began operation at the first meeting of the Interim Governing Board of Directors on the 25th of July 2007.
Some of the documents from the RR consultation are available below. Complete information on the RR consultation, including downloadable copies of all research papers and presentations, can be found on the NFI website at www.nfi.net/risks.htm.
