Publications

The Guidance Note provides an explanation of each one of these components, how they relate to UNFPA’s mandate, and outlines key programming steps that can be taken to advance them. It also provides illustrative examples of applying a HRBA across UNFPA’s three transformative results: zero unmet need for contraception; zero preventable maternal deaths; and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices. 

These guidelines have been developed for healthcare providers on trans-competent healthcare services for transgender patients. We hope these guidelines will give you a better understanding of the experiences trans people face as they navigate their way through accessing health services. It is our hope that these guidelines will increase knowledge about trans-inclusive health services in order to create positive health care experiences for trans people and ensure their right to the highest attainable standard of health. This includes ensuring that healthcare meets the Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality (AAAQ) framework set out in international human rights standards.

For those people who are highly drug dependent, with a resulting compromised immune system, COVID-19 presents a serious threat to life regardless of age. Governments, non-governmental (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) working to support people who use drugs, and other vulnerable and marginalised people in society, have had to react rapidly to the massive increase in COVID-19 transmission across countries and continents. The ten case studies presented here provide a snapshot of the responses of specific organisations and communities who work with people who use drugs and some other marginalised groups around the world.

Harm Reduction Advocacy in Asia, or HRAsia, is a Global Fund multi-country grant that has provided funding and technical support for advocacy in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The programme focused on removing legal barriers, community systems strengthening and the gathering and use of strategic information for advocacy. It has helped to change hearts and minds, and ultimately policies and practices related to drug use and harm reduction. Communities of people who use drugs have become more meaningfully involved in advocacy and service provision.

The report presents an overview of migration in Asia and the Pacific. It discusses the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) implementation in the context of the indicative clusters of GCM objectives presented in General Assembly resolution 73/326. It also discusses short- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants and their families, and recommends future collaborative action by governments and relevant stakeholders in order to achieve safe, orderly and regular migration in Asia and the Pacific. 

Men who have sex with men are a key population in the global response to HIV. Global targets are for 95% of men who have sex with men to be reached by HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment services by 2025. To monitor progress to these important targets, estimates of the number of men who have sex with men need to be as close to the true number as possible. 

Tuberculosis (TB) prevention is essential for reaching the End TB targets in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) of World Health Organization (WHO). The targets of 80% reduction in TB incidence rate and 90% reduction in TB mortality by 2030 (compared to 2015 levels) can be achieved only with additional interventions aimed at preventing TB, according to epidemiological modelling studies commissioned by the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO). Optimal implementation of TB preventive treatment (TPT) is a critical intervention to accelerate reduction in TB burden in the SEA Region, which bears nearly 43% of the global TB burden. TPT by itself has the potential to reduce the overall annual TB incidence rates by 8.3% (95% CrI 6.5–10.8) relative to 2015.

The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly revealed the vast social, economic and health disparities experienced by trans and gender diverse communities even further. Trans people often delay or avoid seeking healthcare due to negative experiences of stigma and discrimination from health care providers. When they do seek healthcare, they report experiences of disrespect, lack of privacy and confidentiality and in many cases outright refusal of care. Additionally, trans people are experiencing increased difficulties getting access to hormones and gender-affirmative health care. 

The 2017-18 BDHS generates evidence on basic national indicators of social progress including fertility, childhood mortality, fertility preferences and fertility regulation, maternal and child health, and the nutritional status of mothers and children. It highlights the major changes that have taken place in Bangladesh’s demographic and health situation since 1993-94. As a major source of data for program monitoring, the 2017-18 BDHS provides information for monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Program (4th HPNSP) and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to improve health services for the Bangladeshi population. This report provides estimates for 14 indicators of the results framework of the 4th HPNSP. Several indicators have shown steady improvements in child nutritional status and coverage of antenatal care and skilled delivery services over the years.

For the second year, global funding for tuberculosis (TB) research and development (R&D) surpassed US$900 million—this time, just barely, with US$900,964,590 spent on TB R&D in 2019. An optimist would emphasize that this figure represents the second highest level of funding for TB research ever recorded by Treatment Action Group (TAG) and the Stop TB Partnership. A realist would point out that funding for TB R&D continues to fall more than halfway short of the US$2 billion per year called for in the political declaration of the 2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB (UN HLM).