International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - July 7, 2005
Maude Froberg, in Kobe, Japan

During the 7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) held from 1st to 5th July in the Japanese city of Kobe, she moves quickly through the crowd of researchers, activists, politicians, HIV-positive people and representatives from different countries and organizations. A dedicated conference volunteer, when she is not working, she tries to attend some sessions, especially those of the Youth Forum.

"We have no time to lose," says the Red Cross-trained nurse, who also has been a volunteer at the official hotline set up by the Congress to inform the public about HIV/AIDS. "People have so many questions and they should not be let down. In order to combat the epidemic here in Japan, more information is needed. Right now, there is a lack of awareness."

According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) around 12,000 people are living with HIV in Japan. These numbers are part of a set of extremely worrisome statistics, since the Asia and Pacific region is currently experiencing a rapidly expanding HIV and AIDS epidemic. According to a conference news release, if urgent and extraordinary measures are not adopted, especially in the field of prevention, the region could see 12 million new HIV infections in the next five years.

In 2004, some 8.2 million people in the region were HIV-positive. Fears are mounting that the AIDS crisis here might surpass that of Africa, if more is not done to promote prevention and access to treatment.

Representatives from the Asian Pacific Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (APN+) as well as those from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies made a point of stressing the need for a greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS.

"We may sit at the same table, but who gets to serve?" Elden Chamberlain, South East Asian Regional Manager for the Australian Red Cross HIV/AIDS Programme, rhetorically asks as he explains the importance of partnership with APN+. "It is easy to want to take the lead instead of ensuring equal say in the decision-making."

The increased risk of HIV/AIDS in times of emergencies was also brought forward at a special session on lessons to be learned from the Asian Tsunami disaster, organized by the United Nations.

In Sri Lanka, for example, the vulnerability of women and children during a crisis situation was studied. Findings by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPR) show that large welfare centres don't always take into consideration the needs of women and girls and that cases of sexual harassment continue to be reported. In the camps, women and children feel particularly unsafe with unfamiliar neighbours. Privacy is missing, as are often lights in toilets. However, sexual and gender-based violence is not just a protection issue, underlines Kiran Bathia, Regional Advisor for Gender and Socio-Cultural Research for UNFPR.

"All emergency responses - information, shelter, water and sanitation, psychosocial support and livelihoods - have to be addressed", she said while expressing concern about the fact that most interventions focus on women and children as victims of sexual and gender-based violence, whereas limited focus is put on men and adolescent boys as perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence.

"At the same time, we should not forget to address men's psychosocial needs," she concluded, pointing at alarming suicide rates among male tsunami survivors.

ICAAP is not the sole international conference focusing on HIV/AIDS this year. In September, the United Nations, following its 2001 special session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) and its Declaration of Commitment, expects member states to report progress in implementing strategies against the spread of the virus.

In addition, the "Treat three million by 2005" ("3 by 5") initiative of the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, is to be evaluated this year. This initiative aims to provide access to anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to three million people living in low- or middle- income countries by the end of 2005. So far, only some 1 million people are currently on ARVs.

In October 2005, hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS as well as home and community caregivers will meet at the Living 2005 Conference, which will combine the 12th International Conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and the 7th International Conference of Home and Community Care for PLWHA.

The meeting will focus on how to increase prevention, care and support for PLWHA at the community level, and how to address the gender inequalities that result in inequitable access to prevention information and treatment for women. As a member of the organising steering committee, the International Federation is working side by side with GNP+ and other partner organisations in the planning of this Conference which will take place in Lima, Peru.

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