UNAIDS Asia-Pacific 
The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), taking place from 1 to 4 September in Apia, Samoa, is focusing the world’s attention on a group of states and territories that have unique challenges for sustainable development owing to their small size, limited resource base and exposure to natural disasters. Read More
Athletes aged 15–18 have converged in Nanjing, China, to compete in a wide range of sports at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. From 16 to 28 August, the young athletes will set their eyes on gold and on achieving their best performance. But the Olympic movement goes beyond celebrating physical talent: it values friendship, solidarity and fair play, and recognizes the power that sport can have in building a better world. Read More
UNAIDS Regional Director Steve Kraus presented Indonesia’s Health Minister Dr. Nafsiah Mboi with an award for her governments efforts to scale up testing in the country, in a ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 5 August. Read More
A satellite event on 21 July at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, explored how public–private partnerships are leveraged in the response to HIV in Papua New Guinea. The event highlighted in particular the role of the private sector in building innovative partnerships that form the foundation for successful public health interventions. Read More
HIV treated as other chronic conditions in immigration health assessment.
UNAIDS welcomes confirmation from the Government of Australia that people living with HIV do not face an automatic exclusion, or unequal treatment when applying for entry, stay or residence visas. People living with HIV are treated similarly to other people with chronic health conditions and disabilities during the country’s immigration health assessment process. Applications for visas from people living with HIV will be assessed against criteria applying to anyone with a chronic health condition. Read More
Significant progress has been made in the Asia and the Pacific region towards reaching the targets of the 2011 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, and the region can aspire to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This was one of the main conclusions of the two-day consultation held on 12 and 13 June in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for accelerating the scale-up of HIV prevention and treatment programmes in the region post-2015. Read More
Papua New Guinea has the highest prevalence of HIV in Oceania (0.5% in 2012) and is experiencing an epidemic concentrated in key population groups and in certain geographical locations. During an official visit to the country, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle met with a variety of stakeholders—including representatives of the government, parliamentarians, development partners, civil society, the private sector and faith-based organizations—which were opportunities to highlight that one of the strengths of the AIDS movement globally has been its ability to build coalitions of stakeholders across disciplines and sectors. “AIDS is much more than a health issue, it is a development, human rights and gender issue. To get to zero in Papua New Guinea we need the power of a coalition of all sectors to ensure that no one is left behind,” said Ms Beagle during a meeting with members of the parliamentary working groups on HIV and population and sustainable development. Read More
The communities most affected by HIV have always been at the forefront of the response to the epidemic, mobilizing and inspiring others to act. In her official visit to Papua New Guinea, taking place during the last week of May, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle witnessed how community leadership is making a difference for people living with HIV in the country. Read More
