Authors: Lee-Nah Hsu, Jacques du Guerny, Promboon Panitchpakdi, Manit Koedkan, et al.

A joint publication of UNDP, UNAIDS, and ICAAP

Foreword

The UNDP South East Asia HIV and Development Project (SEAHIV-UNDP), has prepared this monograph in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Fifth International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP). Its contents are based on manuscripts prepared and presentations made at the sub-track session, Migrant and Mobile Populations and HIV Vulnerability, conducted as a component of the Fifth Meeting of ICAAP held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 23 to 27 October 1999.
Eleven presentations that focus on HIV vulnerability in mobile populations are contained in this monograph. These provide experiences and knowledge gained during the conduct of HIV action programmes in selected countries of the Asia region. The human rights concerns among migrant worker populations are examined to identify their impact on the HIV epidemic. Monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programmes are also included. The final papers were carefully selected from approximately 500 submitted abstracts and represent a broad range of experiences from a wide geographic range that includes Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Hong Kong, SAR of China; India; Japan; Malaysia; Nepal; Thailand and Viet Nam. Some approaches, such as HIV screening tests of migrant workers, although not considered appropriate, are included here to reflect practices in the region.
The ICAAP occurs on a biannual basis to examine, discuss, and debate current knowledge and practices relating to HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. In previous years, considerable knowledge and wisdom was inaccessible, as a systematic method of documentation and dissemination was not undertaken. Several practitioners, researchers, and students have expressed a need for relevant knowledge to be disseminated as a reference source for future programming and research activities.
We hope that this monograph will provide a reference source on the practices, knowledge, and experiences gained. Extending the audience beyond those attending ICAAP will assist in the promotion of quality action programmes and a greater understanding of HIV vulnerability within mobile and migrant worker populations. By disseminating the findings of the ICAAP to a wider audience, the significance of mobility relating to HIV vulnerability in Asia and the Pacific region may become more effectively advocated. It is also expected that an increased understanding of HIV/AIDS programme responses for mobile populations and migrant workers will result.
The monograph is not limited to reporting past achievements but also offers a future direction by providing conclusions and recommendations to assist the United Nations system and other concerned agencies and individuals in their efforts to reduce HIV vulnerability among mobile populations.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank Professor Mary Huang, Co-ordinator of the Fifth ICAAP, for her initiative and the assistance of her team in supplying abstracts for our review and selection. We also wish to acknowledge the support of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) - Asia Pacific Intercountry Team (APICT) for providing the printing cost of this monograph. We also thank Colin Steensma, Canadian International Development Assistance (CIDA) intern to SEAHIV-UNDP for compiling the manuscripts.

Download publication in pdf format: English

974-85835-3-8

April 2000