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The AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) is the custodian and primary co-sponsor of the biennial International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP). It was born from the first conference in Canberra, Australia in 1990.
By the conclusion of the Colombo ICAAP in August 2007, eight ICAAPs will have been held. They include:
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1. Canberra 1990
2. New Delhi 1993
3. Chiang Mai 1995
4. Manila 1997
5. Kuala Lumpur 1999
6. Melbourne 2001
7. Kobe 2005
8. Colombo 2007
9. Bali 2009
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As ICAAP remains ASAP's primary locus of business it continues to work towards the strengthening of future ICAAPs.
Accordingly, ASAP's role is necessarily both technical and administrative. Technically, ASAP undertakes advocacy sub-projects and activities that culminate in the potential to be the largest cross cutting advocacy commitment on HIV/AIDS in any region. Its activities support the exchange of ideas and knowledge through the gathering of social and medical scientists, governmental and non-governmental representatives, health care professionals, politicians, community leaders and political activists in search of better and more effective strategies and enhanced political commitment toward eliminating HIV/AIDS. In addition, using its institutional memory, ASAP is building up a resource to support and guide future hosts of the ICAAP. It has already, for example, published its Guidelines for Future Hosts of ICAAP.
We undertake advocacy projects and activities on HIV/AIDS throughout the region. Our activities support the exchange of ideas and knowledge in search of more effective strategies that enhance political commitment toward eliminating HIV/AIDS.
Some of our current work includes:
- overseeing and guiding arrangements toward future ICAAPs;
- publication of Occasional Papers on new issues surrounding HIV/AIDS; and,
- developing regional advocacy linkages and networks.
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More Recent developments |
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Commencing in 2003, ASAP commenced a re-institutionalisation process for ASAP. This is now seen as an ongoing component of ASAP's governance structure. Specific reasons behind the process, which was a pre-requisite to ASAP re-focussing upon its technical work, were to:
- create better linkages between civil society falling between CBOs, government and UN agencies;
- New Rules and Membership categories;
- Publication of Occasional Papers;
- Strengthen guidance for ICAAP organisers; and,
- Improve internal organisational support systems.
Some of these developments are discussed below.
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Major Developments |
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| 1. New Rules and Membership Category |
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The Executive Committee of ASAP is linking a range of civil society organisations working in HIV/AIDS with government, UN and other multilateral agencies. This is more effectively being achieved through organisational membership. An organisation that is a member of ASAP will be entitled to nominate a representative who may be elected to the Voting Executive Committee. This Committee should include at least one person who is openly HIV positive.
The changes will ensure that:
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ASAP meets its aims, objectives and mission thereby improving its advocacy work toward a more effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; and, |
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ASAP contributes towards a more representative status for organisations, and creates strategic linkages between a broad range of civil society actors working in HIV/AIDS. |
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We are committed to ensuring successful future ICAAPs through the provision of advice and support to country host organising committees. Throughout the past year ASAP consulted widely and published its Guidelines for Prospective Hosts of Future ICAAPs to assist civil society, academia, private sector and governments toward a cooperative approach when hosting future Congresses. The Guidelines are available and may be downloaded from our shared website at www.7sisters.org
In addition, ASAP is currently working with prospective future hosts toward the next ICAAP in 2007.
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| 3. Publication of Occasional Papers |
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We are committed to enhancing the global debate around HIV/AIDS between ICAAPs too. In the past year, ASAP published its first major occasional paper entitled Prevention and Treatment: You can't have one without the other, which is being circulated at major HIV/AIDS related events and is available on our shared website.
New members will receive advance copies of further papers in the future and be invited to participate in their preparation.
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| 4. Quarterly Operational Updates |
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We are committed to promoting transparency in our operation and publishes Quarterly Operational Updates and other public notices on both the SEA-AIDS forum and at it shared website.
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| 5. Increased Accountability and Public Responsiveness |
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ASAP has strengthened its public accountability by:
- engaging independent auditors to assess its accounting practices; and,
- making staff available for comment and issuing explanatory notes about our operations at public events.
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