Publications

This report documents the findings of the second round of the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveys (IBBS) conducted among 400 Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in the Kathmandu Valley. The primary objective of the study was to collect strategic information to analyze trends in risk behavior and HIV/STI prevalence rates among MSM.

“Why you?” “Why this job?” – these are the questions which sexual service providers (SSP) are most commonly asked by male clients; it is as though the man, after being sexually serviced, cannot quite believe that a young woman like this could be doing sex work. The questions suppose that there are other choices open to these women other than sex work, and arguably, they imply at the same time that only certain types of woman do this work as it must be degrading to do so. This study attempts to address these presumptions and allows the reader to hear as it were, the answers (for there are many) to these questions.

The National Center for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC), Nepal has developed a comprehensive National Surveillance Plan for HIV and AIDS which includes Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveys (IBBS) to be conducted at regular intervals among most at risk populations (MARPs). This report details the findings of the third round of IBBS conducted among 345 male IDUs in the Eastern Terai. The primary objective of the study was to collect strategic information to analyze trends in risk behavior and HIV and STI knowledge and prevalence among IDUs. The study was conducted among IDUs in the three districts of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari in the Eastern Terai. A total of 345 male IDUs were sampled using two stage cluster sampling methodology.

As per follow-up to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001, Thailand not only contributed successfully to the submission of the 2008 Country Progress Report to UNAIDS for monitoring results following the country’s commitment throughout the past two years, it also seeks to develop the mechanism in monitoring the country’s progress, with the continual participation of diverse sectors ranging from the government, non- governmental organizations, civil society, academics, international organizations and development partners. Such a mechanism will entail a national sharing database that is utilizable efficiently for HIV/AIDS prevention and alleviation.

Sri Lanka remains one of the few countries in the region with a low level HIV epidemic despite sharing some of the conditions such as sex work, networks of men who have sex with men and large population of heroin users. In addition, many infections that have been identified are associated with overseas work.

The Philippines began planning for its Country UNGASS Report (January 2006 to December 2007) as early as June 2007 and earnestly begun preparation in July 2007 with the widest inclusion of various stakeholders from government, donors, civil society, and communities of most at risk populations and people living with HIV and AIDS.

Papua New Guinea country report on progress of HIV and AIDS interventions for 2006/2007 is in fact the 1st report on UNGASS indicators. The First report attempted in 2005 was only a short narrative one which was sent late to Geneva. It fell short of relevant indicators and therefore was not included in the consolidated report to the UN General Assembly.

In June 2001 Pakistan along with other member states of the United Nations adopted the Declaration of Commitment(DoC)on HIV/AIDS in the United National General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS. This was an effort to compliment the framework for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals for halting and beginning to reverse the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2015 in all countries around the world.

This is an official submission to the UNAIDS secretariat for the monitoring of progress towards the Declaration of Commitment unanimously adopted in the 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS. This report is presented exactly as submitted by the country, without editing or other alteration. This and other member state submissions will form the basis of the Secretary-General’s report to the General Assembly in June as well as the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic which will be launched at the International AIDS Conference in August 2008.

The need to have a more inclusive process with better representation from both civil society and government stakeholders dominated much of the thinking behind this round of UNGASS reporting. A series of workshops and working sessions were convened with government and civil society stakeholders to obtain data for Parts A and B of the National Composite Policy Index (NCPI) questionnaire as well as for the narrative component of the report, verify and to vet the completed inputs as well as presentation of the draft and final report.