Announcement: inputs for AIDS2031

[Posted by Rob Sutherland on msm-asia Google Group, 26 September 2008]

How will HIV and MSM issues evolve in the fast growing economies of China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam over the next 25 years?

Dear colleagues,

aids2031 is an international and interdisciplinary consortium of partners from academia, civil society, government and the private sector committed to transform today’s global AIDS response from a “short-term crisis-management approach to a long-term sustained response” to influence the AIDS pandemic. The project which is lead by UNAIDS hopes to spark new thinking and evidence on AIDS in order to influence investment, programming, research and leadership of tomorrow (see bottom of email for more information).

As part of this initiative we are seeking information - qualitative and quantitative research and reports, internet based information and links, newspaper articles, academic journals etc which may provide insight into this very issue.

In the context of rapid economic and social transformation and as they relate to MSM:

• What are the common trends and patterns of rapid transition in the six countries?
  
• What are the impacts of transitional elements on the spread of HIV as well as AIDS response in the region?
  
• What are the impacts of HIV and the future consequences if the business is carried on as usual?
  
• What opportunities and challenges exist to address these issues?

Some examples of possible issues:

• Potential decreases in stigma and discrimination (towards MSM and PLH) and its impact on sexual identity issues and sexual risk behaviour
  
• As these economies and societies become more open, the effects of their MSM communities also becoming more organized and open?
  
• Impact of a possible trend from venue based to internet and other technology based forms of dating and sexual networking.
  
• Maintaining the long term interest of government and donors on MSM and HIV
  
• The epidemiological projections for these countries.
  
• Issues relating to a greater PLH population as more HIV positive MSM access ARV and live longer.

Many of these issues are ones that have been or are currently being experienced by more economically developed countries such as Australia, USA and many in Europe. So any information from such countries that may provide insight into addressing these issues would also be useful.

We would be grateful for any information by October 20th.

More information on the initiative:

aids2031 is an international and interdisciplinary consortium of partners from academia, civil society, government and the private sector committed to transform today’s global AIDS response from a “short-term crisis-management approach to a long-term sustained response” to influence the AIDS pandemic. The project which is lead by UNAIDS hopes to spark new thinking andevidence on AIDS in order to influence investment, programming, research and leadership of tomorrow.

Of the nine working groups of the aids2031 initiative, Working Group on Countries in Rapid Transition (WGCRT) is specially convened to better understand the impact of rapid transitions in the six fast growing economies (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam) in Asia region on the future of AIDS response in the region. It is co-convened by the UNAIDS RST-AP regional director Mr. JVR Prasada Rao and Prof. Myung-Hwan Cho of Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.

This newly convened working group is composed of experts from various backgrounds who focus on the analysis of the larger structural, geographic, mobility and social trends resulting out of the rapid transition that have the potential to influence the pattern in which HIV is likely to spread over the next 25 years.

The Working Group on Countries in Rapid Transition will produce a research report, based on existing and collated evidence that can underscore the factors which may influence significant increase in the HIV epidemic and/or for specific populations in the countries experiencing rapid transition, its implications for a sustained and equitable growth of the societies and impact on growing economy as well as develop scenarios for the decision makers to address these issues through long-term sustainable approaches.

The findings and recommendations of the working group will be submitted to the Steering Committee of aids2031 by mid 2009.

Rob Sutherland
Capacity Development Officer - MSM
UNAIDS Regional Support Team, Asia and the Pacific
Phone: +66 0 2288 2843 | Fax: +66 0 2288 1092 |
United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue
Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200 Thailand
sutherlandr@unaids.org | www.unaids.org