Publications

In its General Recommendation 19 the CEDAW Committee states, that the definition of discrimination against women includes gender–based violence, that is "violence that is disproportionately directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty. Gender-based violence may breach specific provisions of the Convention, regardless of whether those provisions expressly mention violence". These research papers - International Standards on Domestic Violence Legislation and Overview of Global Good Practices on Domestic Violence Response Systems prepared by the Lawyers Collective Women's Rights Initiative, India, and contained in this publication, contribute strongly to the enhancement of domestic legislation in the ASEAN region. Drawing on international standards and good practice globally, they not only provide a rich analysis of existing legislation, but a robust framework to enhance the gender responsiveness of legislation and its implementation.

The prevalence of HIV was low in 917 male and transgender sex workers and absent in 533 female sex workers in the study. High levels of current sexually transmitted infections were found, predominantly among transgender sex workers. Risk behaviours were common and knowledge of HIV was extremely low. The HIV epidemic is currently in its early stages among people who sell sex, but there may be potential for a much greater spread given the levels of other sexually transmitted infections found and the concomitant low levels of both protective knowledge and risk-reducing behaviours. Action is needed now to avert an epidemic. Framing interventions by upholding the recognition and protection of human rights is vital.

HIV epidemic is the single major reversal in human development in modern history. In most heavily affected countries, HIV has drastically reduced life expectancy even by more than 20 years. The estimated number of persons living with HIV in the world in 2007 was 33 million (30 million –36million). HIV & AIDS, SAARC Region Update 2009 incorporates updated information on HIV/AIDS. This is the seventh annual report on HIV/AIDS situation in the SAARC Region. It includes general information on HIV/AIDS and describes global, regional and SAARC Member States' HIV/AIDS situation in 2007-2008.

The combined efforts of countries and international partners have resulted in substantial advances in HIV treatment and prevention. Nonetheless, access to key HIV services remains low in many settings around the world, and there are still major research gaps about the best way to expand HIV testing, prevention and treatment, especially in resource-limited settings. The Generic Tools project is part of WHO's broader efforts to facilitate operational research on HIV testing, treatment and prevention. To identify the information needed to improve HIV programmes, the HIV Department of WHO held international meetings, multi-stakeholder consultations and local workshops, and reviewed the evidence and the availability of data collection tools. These activities highlighted a number of research questions that were amenable to operational research, had relevance in diverse settings, and had the potential to improve programmes and strengthen the evidence base for policies.

In April 2004, the government of India announced the Free Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Program, which brought first-line antiretroviral (ARV) drugs within the reach of a much larger pool of ARV-eligible individuals. However, the full costs of providing treatment, the share of costs across entities involved directly or indirectly in the program, and the possible financial implications of a more scaled-up program were not much discussed or analyzed in the country, leaving open many questions regarding the cost of the program and the implications of scaling up access to treatment. The present study attempts to fill this gap by carrying out a financial analysis of the recurrent costs of the ART program of the government of India, with a view to understanding the per-client cost of provision of ART by the government, the share of various components of the program in total cost, the distribution of costs across the different bearers of such costs, the resource implications of scaling up, and the long-run sustainability of the program.

This research study on index of stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive people was aimed to promote and support the advocacy of human rights issues in Thailand. It was implemented by the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+) and supported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Findings acquired through this project can enable both Thailand and other countries to understand these prevailing social phenomena in conjunction with national rights-related policies, inform program design aiming to resolve and reduce HIV stigma and discrimination issues at implementation level, and advocate for national-level policy. Data collection took place in mid-2009 through interviews to gather past experiences of positive people in different parts of Thailand. Therefore, the data recorded were incidents that occurred between 2008-2009.

Bangladesh is in the nascent stage of its HIV/AIDS epidemic, as the most recent data indicate an estimated 7,500 persons living with HIV nationwide. In total, 1,207 cases of HIV have been identified since the first case in 1989. Prevalence estimates suggest that HIV/AIDS remains at less than 1% amongst most at -risk populations. Research conducted by Bangladesh’s International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) has underscored a number of problematic areas for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), in particular the need to address societal stigma and subsequent discrimination directed at two groups: PLHIV and their health care providers. This study advances prior research with an attempt to document stigma and discrimination both quantitatively using the Stigma Index and qualitatively using focused, in-depth interviews experienced by the PLHIV in Bangladesh.

Since the first case of HIV in the region was reported in 1984, there have been various responses at regional and national levels. One major landmark was the endorsement of the Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV and AIDS (2004–2008) by the Pacific Leaders Forum in 2004. The endorsement by the region’s leaders has facilitated the mobilisation of resources to support the strategy’s implementation.  The Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV and other STIs (2009–2013) will build on the successes and strengths of previous work and address some of the challenges in supporting national efforts to prevent and control HIV. Simultaneously, because other STIs are a key risk factor for the transmission of HIV in the Pacific, the strategy will support national efforts to combat them. It will also strengthen work at the regional level through improved coordination, collaboration and partnerships between regional organisations and national programmes.

Since the first case of AIDS was reported from Thailand, a quarter of a century ago, the epidemic in the South-East Asia Region has grown massively. Today, HIV has been reported from 10 of 11 countries in the Region. Nearly 3.5 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS in the Region, and the epidemic is still evolving. HIV policies and programmes should be based on evidence and firmly rooted in the science of epidemiology. This annual report on “HIV/AIDS in the South-East Asia Region 2009”, presents the current epidemiological situation as well as recent progress in universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment, based on data reported by Member countries of the Region. The report highlights that HIV continues to disproportionately affect marginalized populations. Transmission of HIV is fueled by risky sexual and injecting practices and high rates of sexually transmitted infections.While remarkable progress has been made in assuring safe blood transfusion services, expanding testing and counselling facilities and to some extent in scaling-up antiretroviral treatment programmes, there are many shortfalls that need urgent attention.

This book offers an original perspective on HIV and AIDS as a development issue in South Asia, a region with a heterogeneous epidemic and estimated national HIV prevalence rates of up to 0.5 percent. The analysis challenges the common perception of HIV and AIDS, which has been shaped to a large extent by analysis of HIV and AIDS in regions with much higher prevalence rates. Three risks to development are associated with HIV and AIDS in the region: First, the risk of escalation of concentrated epidemics. Second, the economic welfare costs. Third, the fiscal costs of scaling up treatment.