Publications

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).

The 2020 Human Development Report (HDR) doubles down on the belief that people’s agency and empowerment can bring about the action we need if we are to live in balance with the planet in a fairer world. It shows that we are at an unprecedented moment in history, in which human activity has become a dominant force shaping the planet. These impacts interact with existing inequalities, threatening significant development reversals. Nothing short of a great transformation – in how we live, work and cooperate – is needed to change the path we are on. The Report explores how to jumpstart that transformation.

The 2018-2019 Annual Report highlights progress made around the Asia Pacific Region to make the vision of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls. UN Women stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on five priority areas: increasing women’s leadership and participation; ending violence against women; engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes; enhancing women's economic empowerment. The report emphasizes these programming achievements which are made possible from collaboration and cooperation with valued partners and donors all teaming up for gender equality.

This technical resource builds on the recommendations and guidance in the Handbook and provides specific guidance to ensure the concerns and interests of women migrant workers are incorporated into National Action Plans on Ending Violence Against Women. It is noted that all of the recommendations in the Handbook for National Action Plans on Violence Against Women apply; this document serves only to focus on women migrant workers’ rights and needs. As such, in each section, considerations for addressing women migrant workers’ needs in national action planning are described. The recommendations in each section are also aligned with the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence and the 16 Essentials for Quality Multisectoral Service Provision to Women Migrant Workers Subject to Violence.