Publications

Schools and governments throughout Asia-Pacific are moving beyond the idea that dealing with issues around sexual orientation and gender identity/expression (SOGI/E) is "too sensitive" or "too new". A recent regional consultation on the basis of SOGI/E reflected the sentiment of one Ministry of Education official from the region who told UNESCO: "It will always be sensitive or new if we never do anything about it." Ministries and concerned stakeholders throughout the region are taking action and their successes as well as the challenges that lie ahead were discussed at the Asia-Pacific Consultation on School Bullying on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression held from 15-17 June 2015 in Bangkok. A detailed, illustrated 49-page report on the results of the consultation with summaries of all sessions, key recommendations and suggested next steps by countries.

A child’s chance to survive and thrive is much greater in 2015 than it was when the global community committed to the MDGs in 2000. Data show significant progress in areas such as child survival, nutrition, motherto-child transmission of HIV and primary school enrolment, among others. These are impressive achievements, but they are only part of the story. This report also shows progress for the most vulnerable, proving that a more equitable world is within reach. But despite this progress, millions of the children in greatest need have been left behind – the most marginalized and vulnerable children whose future the MDGs were designed to safeguard.

This paper provides an overview of how current drug policies affect human development, including UNDP's mandate and activities. It highlights opportunities for UNDP to address the development dimensions of drug policy in its programme and policy support to UN Member States as guided by our 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. The paper also addresses potential avenues for UNDP to promote the development dimensions of drug policy in international norm setting fora, including the post-2015 agenda and the preparations for UNGASS 2016. Ultimately, its is hoped that the paper will be used by UNDP and other stakeholders to support policies and programmes that contribute to better coherence between drug control policies and practices and development goals.

New Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services from WHO recommend standardized HIV testing strategies to correctly diagnose HIV infection.

New Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services from the WHO recommend that lay providers who are trained can, using rapid diagnostic tests, independently conduct safe and effective HIV testing services.  

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Myanmar is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID) and female sex workers (FSW). HIV prevalence in the adult population aged 15 years and older was estimated at 0.54% in 2014. But data from HIV Sentinel Sero-Surveillance (HSS) indicates higher prevalence in 2014 among key populations: FSW 6.3%, MSM 6.6% and PWID 23.1%. Compared to 2012 data, the prevalence has declined from 7.1% in FSW and 8.9% in MSM, but has increased from 18% in PWID. An estimated 9,000 new infections occurred in 2014. Most HIV and AIDS cases are reported from large urban areas, and from the north-eastern and northern areas of the country where injecting drug use is widespread. 

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) assigned its National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) with the responsibility of leading the preparation and submission of the Nepal Country Progress Report 2014 in collaboration with technical partners and stakeholders for the Global AIDS Response Progress Reporting (GARPR). In March 2015, the NCASC nominated the Strategic Information Technical Working Group as an Advisory Group (AG) for the preparation of the country progress report. At the same time, a Technical Working Team (TWT) was also formed with the responsibility of the actual preparation of the report. The road map for the Country AIDS Response Progress for the GARPR reporting was developed in consensus with the AG and TWT.

Timor-Leste is still a low HIV prevalence country, where HIV prevalence of general population is well below 1%, while it is lower than 5% in any of the key population, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users. There are areas and groups where the HIV epidemic is “concentrated”, however. This status has been determined from surveillance information, an integrated bio-behavioral survey (IBBS) in key populations (2011) and HIV sentinel surveillance undertaken in 2010 and 2013.

UNAIDS welcomes additional evidence released in May 2015 that early initiation of antiretroviral therapy has a positive effect on the health and well-being of people living with HIV. The United States National Institutes of Health-funded international randomized clinical trial START (Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment) has found compelling evidence that the benefits of starting antiretroviral therapy as soon as someone is diagnosed outweigh the risks of delaying until their CD4 count has fallen to 350 cells/mm3.

The Ministry of Health’s 2014 statistics on HIV and AIDS show a slight increase of 3,517 HIV cases from 3,393 in 2013 to 3,517 new cases with a total cumulative of 105,189 HIV cases. The trend indicates a 78 per cent increase in sexual relations comprising homo/bisexuals and heterosexuals. While women and girls continue to be susceptible to HIV infection and experience HIV related health disparities, youths have also been found to be at risk. Hence, the implementation of the Red Ribbon Youth Club (RRYC) programme by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF), through its sister organisation Malaysia Aids Council (MAC), is pertinent in spreading awareness and education on HIV and AIDS among the youths, especially students in institutions of higher learning. Education and awareness programmes have also been designed to change the mindset and perception of society at large towards people living with HIV, especially with regards to stigma and discrimination against them and their families.