9th International Congress on HIV and AIDS in Asia and the Pacific

• UNESCO Phnom Penh/ Mr Ung Kim
• UNSCO HIV and AIDS Focal Points from left to right: Ung Kim Heang (Phnom Office), Sereima Lumelume (Apia Office) and Shashi Dev (Kathmandu)

The International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) was held from the 9th to 13th of August in Bali, Indonesia. The week long biennial congress drew more than 4000 delegates together to reflect on progress, challenges and future strategies for responding to AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region. The theme of this year’s ICAAP was ‘Empowering people, strengthening networks’.

The ninth ICAAP was opened by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Hj. Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the opening address given by Mr JVR Prasada Rao, Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team, Asia and the Pacific on behalf of UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibé.

Mr Rao stated “What is really impressive is that the conference will showcase the immense progress made by community groups, working together and in partnership with government and other partners, in spearheading the response in many countries in the Asia Pacific region.”

The UNESCO delegation to ICAAP included senior Ministry of Education Officials (MOE) from Samoa and PNG, along with the UNESCO Apia Office HIV & AIDS focal point Ms Sereima Lumelume.

The delegation also included representatives from Asia and was led by the Regional Coordinator for HIV and AIDS based in the UNESCO Bangkok Office, Mr Jan de Lind van Wijngaarden.

Prior the official opening, Senior Ministry of Education Officials, participated as panellists in the Special Session organised by PATH, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF on ‘Enhancing HIV Prevention for Adolescents through Effective Health and Sexuality Education’.

The special session also included the presentation of ‘The Sexuality Education Guidelines’ by Mr Wijngaarden.

• Source:UNESCO Apia
• 17-08-2009