HIV in Asia and the Pacific

The ongoing HIV epidemic, particularly among marginalized communities, highlights the urgent nature of UNFPA's work in the region.

Key Populations: 

The epidemic is heavily concentrated among specific groups, such as men who have sex with men, female sex workers, transgender people, and people who inject drugs. The HIV response must prioritize tailor-made, non-stigmatizing health services for these key populations.

Structural Barriers and Violence: 

Access to prevention and treatment is often blocked by widespread issues like stigma, discrimination, criminalization, and gender-based violence (GBV). Overcoming these barriers is essential for successful, integrated programs and for ensuring no one is left behind in the HIV response 

Integrated Health Threats: 

Gender inequality and GBV are key drivers of the epidemic. UNFPA’s approach involves integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), HIV and GBV responses. Furthermore, connecting HIV services with the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is vital to improve health system efficiency and sustainability.

Achieving Global Goals: 

Achieving the 2025 HIV targets and the ultimate goal of ending AIDS by 2030 requires accelerated action and breaking down societal and structural barriers. Integration of SRHR and HIV is considered a key strategy for advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and for strengthening the resilience of health systems.

UNFPA is at the forefront of the regional HIV response, collaborating with governments, civil society, and partners to drive integrated and rights-based programs. To accelerate progress towards ending AIDS by 2030, we focus on the following five strategic priorities:

1. Connecting Essential Services: UNFPA integrates HIV services with Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) care. This means a person can access multiple critical services in one place, which improves the quality of care and helps reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
2. Fighting Discrimination and Criminalization: UNFPA advocates for the removal of harmful laws, such as the criminalization of sex work, that prevent key populations from accessing life-saving prevention and treatment services. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can seek care without fear or discrimination.
3. Empowering Communities: UNFPA believes in the power of local communities. We prioritize and support community-led programs, including those run by sex workers, to ensure that the design and delivery of HIV and GBV programs truly meet the needs of the people they serve.
4. Driving Innovation: UNFPA scales up innovative approaches which offer flexible care options, and promote new tools like PrEP and digital health solutions. This ensures care reaches every person who needs it, no matter where they are.
5. Ensuring Long-Term Impact: UNFPA advocates for the full implementation of national 95-95-95 HIV goals and promotes sustainable funding strategies to secure the long-term success of the HIV response.

UNFPA’s Recent Achievements: 

UNFPA’s work with national counterparts implements evidence-based, rights-focused programs that adapt to local needs:

• Cash and Voucher Assistance (Indonesia): A pilot Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) program for FSWs living with HIV resulted in a 59% increase in treatment adherence claims, demonstrating the critical role of economic support in health outcomes.
• Scaling Up Service Models (Indonesia): The successful HIV Case Management Model, a structured social work approach, was scaled up from 23 districts to 131 districts nationwide to reduce service drop-off rates.
• Youth Education and Health (Philippines): Integrated HIV and STI services into the Out-of-School Comprehensive Sexuality Education (OOS-CSE) Programme. This included the development of a new module on Trans Health for vulnerable adolescents.
• Health System Strengthening (India): Supported the integration of SRH and HIV services in Bihar State, including training 130 health providers in counseling and referral linkages within the public health system.
• Integrated Technical Support: Providing technical assistance to countries like Cambodia for integrating HIV services with cervical cancer, STI, and mental health services, and to Papua New Guinea (PNG) for prioritizing the integration of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and HIV services.
• Stigma Reduction and CSE (Thailand): Promoting comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) that engages with sexual and gender diversity for HIV prevention and stigma reduction.
• Community-Led Response (Myanmar): Supporting the Myanmar Youth Stars network to provide vital peer-to-peer education and integrated mental health services for young key populations amid the ongoing crisis.
• Community Empowerment: Partnered with the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) and UNAIDS to strengthen community-led crisis responses and advocate for inclusive social protection policies and the decriminalization of sex work.

As a co-convener of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition (GPC), UNFPA sets regional priorities to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS by 2030.

HIV Toolkit and Resources

• Asia and the Pacific regional profile - 2024 global AIDS update The Urgency of Now
• Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)
• Cash and Voucher Assistance in Asia and the Pacific
• Global HIV Prevention Road Map
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Sex workers increased burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 
• The Global Fund Strategy Framework (2023-2028)
• End Inequalities. End AIDS. Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 - World | ReliefWeb
• The global health sector strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections 2022-2030
• UNAIDS data 2023
• Understanding measures of progress towards the 95–95–95 HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression targets
• Uphold the Right to Health for All to End AIDS by 2030
• What is the evidence of effectiveness of SRH/HIV integration?