Bangkok (Thailand), 18 November 2013 - Thailand is hosting the 11th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP11): "Asia Pacific Reaching Triple Zero: Investing in Innovation" in Bangkok (18-22 November). The Congress is expected to bring together over 3,000 attendees from around the world.
During a high level Leadership Forum, a meeting organised by UNAIDS and WHO prior to the opening of the ICAAP11, senior government officials, including National AIDS Programme Managers, presented on the current situation and response to HIV. In his key note speech His Excellency, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the President of Fiji, highlighted progress made in reviewing and amending laws that hamper national HIV responses, and stressed the importance of reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.
UNODC will organise two Satellite Sessions during the Congress.
The first is a joint UNAIDS-UNODC session, Expanding access to harm reduction services in Asia - closing the gap by 2015, 21 November 2013, chaired by Mr. Pradeep Kakkatil, Deputy Regional Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team and Dr. Monica Beg, Chief, HIV/AIDS Section.
The second is a UNODC side event, Effective HIV Approaches: Promoting and protecting health and human rights in prisons, on Friday 22 November.
In addition, Dr Monica Beg and other UNODC staff will be chairing or presenting at Symposia and Satellite Sessions organised by partner organisations.
Find out more about UNODC's engagement at ICAAP11 here.
