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

Statement on ART as Prevention: Scaling down HIV requires scaling up human rights, testing and treatment

To the participants at the WHO consultation on ART as HIV prevention:

We, the undersigned organizations, are encouraged by emerging evidence that ART may be an effective means of reducing HIV incidence and applaud the attention of WHO and UNAIDS to identifying scientifically sound and innovative ways to accelerate progress toward universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. We appreciate that exploration of ART as prevention is being undertaken with that crucial goal in mind, including significant gains in increasing the number of people who know their status and, if positive, have timely access to treatment.

We urge UN bodies, donors and researchers involved in this exploration to be mindful that people living with HIV and many who are highly vulnerable to it remain unable to gain access to HIV testing and to initiate treatment earlier, in a timely fashion, as a result of many human rights violations, as well as clinical and systemic barriers. Research models that do not adequately consider and address these barriers do a disservice to the important goal of making ART available to all as both prevention and treatment.

As noted by WHO and UNAIDS in the guidance on provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC guidance), there is ample evidence that fear of stigma, losing a job, losing relationships and social support, and losing the protection and love of family are powerful barriers to seeking HIV testing and treatment and to staying on treatment. The PITC guidance goes on to underscore the need for an enabling legal, social and health service environment.

Click here or on the image at right to see the full Statement on ART as Prevention.

Read the signatories on worldcarecouncil.org.

Cover of ART Statement (click to full statement)

Click above to see the full Statement on ART as Prevention

Front cover of policy brief (click to see PDF)

Click above to go to policy brief PDF

Reaching men who have sex with men in the global HIV & AIDS epidemic

A new policy brief from Global Forum on MSM & HIV

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is pleased to announce the launch of a new policy brief, Reaching Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in the Global HIV & AIDS Epidemic. This document provides an introduction to HIV among gay men and other MSM and identifies key strategic areas that are essential to turning the tide of the epidemic.

From the Summary:

The MSMGF has identified five key strategic areas where attention is needed in order to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV among MSM, namely:

Increased investments in programs for MSM
Expanded coverage of quality HIV-related services for MSM
Increased knowledge and research on MSM and HIV
Decreased stigma, discrimination, and violence against MSM
Strengthened international, regional, sub-regional, and national networks of MSM

See the full policy brief (PDF).

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.