APCOM writes UN Secretary General

[Posted by Aditya Bondyopadhyay, ap-rainbow, 20 November 2008.]

To the Honourable Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General
United Nations,
New York, New York
United States of America

8th November 2008

Dear Excellency,

The imminent departure of Dr. Peter Piot from UNAIDS marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new chapter for a key global organization in the arena of HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, awareness and advocacy. It also raises many questions as to the future direction of UNAIDS under Dr. Piot's successor who is about to be chosen from a field of three candidates.

In recent years, under Dr. Piot's leadership, UNAIDS has taken an ever stronger stand on the issues, needs and concerns regarding men who have sex with men (MSM), underlining the urgent need to address the substantive risks and vulnerabilities experienced by them. This, against the backdrop of abysmally and unacceptable low coverage of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services that would address those needs, along with the poor investment record in such services.

In a March 2008 report issued by the Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia (Redefining AIDS in Asia: Crafting an Effective Response), and which was presented to you at the time, the authors pointed out the danger of the coming decade of not investing effectively and appropriately, where, as a consequence, some 50% of new HIV infections would be among MSM in the region. The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) regards this as a truly frightening scenario, one that must be tackled on a war footing via a joint effort by governments, United Nations agencies and organizations, non-governmental organizations, MSM community organizations and activists. This is the wide-ranging and vibrant coalition that APCOM represents across the Asia Pacific.

Dr Peter Piot has been a staunch ally of the work being done by the affected communities, not only in our region, but globally, and has worked hard to raise these issues of concern, addressing the social exclusion of MSM from social justice, equity and health services. He has done this not only within the UNAIDS Secretariat itself, but also among the co-sponsors, with governments, donors, and civil society.

With Dr Piot leaving UNAIDS, and the subsequent challenges that will be posed by the transition period for the new Executive Director, APCOM would like to be assured that the issues, needs and concerns, of what can be considered one of the most vulnerable populations to HIV and AIDS will not be forgotten, but will continue to be central not only of UNAIDS, but of the new Executive Director. In fact, we believe that this should be one of the key criteria for the final selection of the Executive Director.

Each of the final candidates for this very important UN position must be asked what has been his or her standpoint on men who have sex with men and hiv; what each has done to highlight this issue of great concern, and how each of the prospective Executive Directors intends to carry this forward within UNAIDS.

Yours sincerely

Shivananda Khan, OBE
Interim Chairperson
APCOM