What's New

Gender –based Violence (GBV), which is a gender neutral term by definition, but affecting mostly women, and cutting across all strata of the society, widespread both in the developed and developing world and Maldives is no exception. The land mark study (WHLE Study) conducted in 2004 showed that 1 in 3 women aged 15-49 have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. This includes intimate partner violence, sexual violence by family members, colleagues at work and stress, as well as childhood sexual abuse.  

This report provides evidence of raised expectations translated into figures and a ‘calling-to-account’ of the key players in the national response to AIDS. There is a rising expectation on the Nauru's government, not only to honour the commitment to the Political Declaration on AIDS endorsed in 2011 but also to ensure that the interventions set out to reach the commitments are successful, constructive and accountable. Common objectives such as reaching ‘Universal Access to Prevention, Care and Treatment’ and the Political Declaration of 2011 helped realize that HIV is one of the world’s challenges which is too interconnected and complex for any country to handle. These challenges further consolidate the need for greater collaboration between government and civil society.

The report, entitled ‘Why Do Some Men Use Violence Against Women and How Can We Prevent It? Quantitative Findings from the UN Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific’ was conducted in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea. It explores the prevalence of men’s use of violence against women in the survey sites, and shows what factors make men more or less likely to use violence.

In 2011, the fourth round of the Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance (IHBSS) was led by the Department of Health. The IHBSS would provide crucial strategic information that would influence and provide direction for policies, programs, and services to help address the escalating epidemic of HIV in the Philippines and its consequent burden. The most-at-risk populations (MARPS) were included in the surveillance and in this report - Males who have sex with Males (MSM), Female Sex Workers (FSW), and Injecting Drug Users (IDU).

The 2012-13 PDHS specifically collected information about knowledge and practice of family planning, fertility levels, marriage, fertility preferences, child feeding practices, nutritional status of children and women, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, awareness and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS, knowledge about other illnesses (e.g., tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C), and domestic violence. Information on the above-mentioned topics was mainly collected from ever-married women; however, some of the information was also collected from ever-married men. The collected information will provide a database for evaluation of relevant ongoing projects and can assist policymakers in developing appropriate strategies and plans for future projects.

The Bureau of Epidemiology has developed the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance system among migrant workers for the first time to understand HIV situation among this population. It is used as a means to monitor HIV epidemic and to evaluate the program. In 2010, the first round of the surveillance survey was conducted and repeated the second round in 2012. This report includes the results from both rounds, but the analysis in certain dimensions are yet to be included to yield comprehensiveness of migrant situation, which will be addressed in the next round of surveillance survey.

In 2012, PSI/Vietnam conducted the third and final round of the Sex Workers (SW) and Sex Workers Who Inject Drugs (SW-IDU) Behavioral Survey, following previous rounds conducted in 2009 and 2011. The purpose of the survey was to inform and evaluate SW and SW-IDU programming. This is a cross-sectional study among female SWs and SW-IDUs in 7 priority President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) provinces: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and An Giang. The study additionally focuses on a sample of SW-IDUs recruited in four provinces where Song Dep outreach has been launched: Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, HCMC, and Nghe An, along with Hanoi, where low dead space syringe (LDSS) piloting is being implemented.

The Global Fund is changing its funding model. The new model will change the way the Global Fund assesses, approves, disburses, and monitors grants to increase successful applications, improve implementation, and ultimately achieve greater impact. The new model will increase engagement between applicants and the Global Fund and provide implementers with more flexibility, predictability, and clarity.

The new model provides implementers with more flexible timing, better alignment with national strategies and greater predictability on the level of funding available. There is more active engagement with implementers and partners throughout grant application and implementation to ensure greater global impact.

Six countries and three regional programs are being invited as early applicants to participate in the full process of the new funding model, from submitting a concept note to creating a new grant. The countries – Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kazakhstan and the Philippines – will be able to access a total of US$364 million in new funding in the transition period. They can also apply for additional funds that incentivize ambitious and high impact investments and co-financing.