HIV/AIDS and Mobility in South Asia

For the millions who seek greater employment and economic opportunities migration is an increasingly attractive option. Migrants not only comprise an essential component of the workforce in more economically developed countries, but also provide significant contributions to the national economies of their home countries.

Migrants, however, are often exploited, marginalized, and stigmatized throughout the migration process. As mobility within South Asian countries and migration within the region and abroad continues to grow, care must be made to ensure that migrants’ rights are protected.

This study provides a synthesis of current migration trends and the HIV situation in seven countries of South Asia, examining the HIV situation of migrants within the context of gender, national and international migration patterns, policies and legislation. It is our hope that it provides a comprehensive reference tool for future policy, programmes and advocacy, and ultimately, contributes to the protection of migrants’ rights throughout the whole migration cycle.