UNAIDS Asia-Pacific 
“When I was 30 years-old, I was surprised to learn that I was pregnant,” said Prem Paika, who lives in Chiang Mai, a big city in the north of Thailand. “My partner, who I had been with for the past eight years thought he was infertile, so we did not use any birth control.”
Bangkok, 14 September 2015 – The Asia–Pacific region has made significant progress in efforts to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis, but thousands of mothers and children have yet to feel the benefits.
As the academic school year gets into full swing in Thailand, Thammasat, one of the country’s most prestigious and progressive universities is making a Social Life Skills class mandatory for its incoming freshman. This new course aims to ensure students have the skills to lead a successful life and covers a wide range of subjects, including music, art, sports and a three hour session on sex, where part of the focus is on gender identity. Kritipat Chotidhanitsakul (Jimmy) has been invited to sensitize students about transgender issues and by the end of the school year is expected to have lectured to 8000 students. This is the first time Thammasat has made such a topic mandatory for new students.
On 9 September, Thailand’s Gender Equality Act came into effect. It is a legal instrument that prevents discrimination on the basis of gender and is inclusive of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT). Kath Khangpiboon is a member of the Thai Transgender Alliance for Human Rights (TGA). UNAIDS spoke with her about the significance of the new legal instrument.
A photography exhibition, which shines the spotlight on the resilience of people living with HIV opened in Islamabad, Pakistan on 7 September. It is the first time that an exhibit in Pakistan has been dedicated to portraying the inspirational stories of people living with HIV and the goal is to help reduce stigma and discrimination. A Photo Story on People Living with HIV in Pakistan was produced in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and the UNAIDS Country Office.
Nineteen renowned Malaysian and Indonesian contemporary artists are exhibiting their work in an exhibition called ARTAID 15, which is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 21-31 August. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and Segaris Art Center and aims to highlight the situation of women and children living with HIV in Malaysia. Led by two of Malaysia’s most acclaimed artists Ahmad Zakii Anwar and Jalaini Abu Hassan, the artists donated 23 original art pieces to be sold for the benefit of MAF’s treatment, care and support programmes.
Ahmad Zakii is a Trustee of MAF and has exhibited his work in more than 40 solo and group exhibitions across the globe. A giant of the Malaysian contemporary art scene, he is also a social activist and founded Life Zone, which runs community homes for people living with HIV. Jalaini Abu Hassan has held more than 20 solo exhibitions and his paintings reflect a Malaysian visual vernacular.
UNAIDS interviewed the artists about what inspired them to participate in the exhibition.
“The Blue Diamond Society sprang into action a few days after the Nepal earthquake and organized a camp specifically for sexual and gender minorities.” Manisha Dhakal, Acting Executive Director of the Blue Diamond Society
August 19 is World Humanitarian Day, when we honour humanitarian workers. Manisha Dhakal is a Messenger of Humanity. Read more to find out why. Please share this post with #sharehumanity hashtag. Photographs are courtesy of Paula Bronstein for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This week the Nepal government presented its first “O” passport to a transgender woman. Manisha Dhakal, the acting Executive Director of the Blue Diamond Society writes about what this landmark move means to her and other transgender people.
UNAIDS Asia-Pacific 