Asian/Pacific Aids Advocates call upon National and International governments, NGOs, international organizations and the private sector to take up the challenge of coming together in acknowledging and addressing the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Asia/Pacific countries.

They demand that these sectors make major political and leadership commitments in addressing HIV/AIDS issues in Asia/Pacific at the UN General Assembly Session on HIV/AIDS that is going to take place in New York City from June 25th- 27th 2001.

An estimated 6.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in South, Southeast and East Asia. Asia is home to more than one-third of the world's population and harbors more than one-fourth of the world's new HIV infections. India has a total of 3.7 million cases, ranking second in the world and in many parts of Northeast India, 65% of injecting drug users are infected. Many parts of China are experiencing rapidly rising epidemics. Myanmar is already in the throes of a major epidemic while Cambodia has the highest prevalence rates in the region. The message is loud and clear: Enough is enough. Let us not wait till Asia becomes the next Africa by denying and ignoring the massive loss of human lives from AIDS in these regions.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Harvard University, and others have proposed allocating a $10 billion to the new Global AIDS Fund for prevention, treatment, and orphans response. Yet, it's unknown whether or as to how much of this money will go to Asia/Pacific nations.

WE DEMAND IMMEDIATE NEW FUNDING, STRONG POLITICAL COMMITMENTS AND MASSIVE LEADERSHIP EFFORTS FROM ALL SECTORS TO ADDRESS THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN ASIA/PACIFIC COUNTRIES.

To make ASIAN voices heard, SAATHII is working in close collaboration with other Asia/Pacific groups such as 6TH ICAAP (International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific), Asian/Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Malaysian AIDS Council, Indian Network of NGOs, Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Manvi, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, Humana People to People India, SARADA Society for Care and Counseling of AIDS, Pro-Gay Philippines, Network of South Asian League of Artists in America and many others in organizing advocacy events on AIDS in ASIA at UNGASS meeting.

"AIDS in Asia/Pacific"
A Panel Discussion on June 24th from 7-10 PM
New York Medical Center, Room B (next to Farka's Auditorium).
Indian Health Minister is Guest of Honor
Invited / Confirmed Speakers :
Dr. C. Thakur, Honorable Health Minister, Government of India
Mr. JVR Prasada Rao, Project Director, National AIDS Control Organization, India
Ms. Marina Mahathir, Marina Mathur, Malaysian AIDS Council, Malaysia
Mr. Ashok Pillai, Indian Net work of People Living with HIV
Dr. Dennis Altman, Co-Chair, 6th ICCAP, Melbourne Australia
Dr. Naik, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
Other ASIAN Delegations

For All Inquiries Saathii@aol.com or
Contacts: 347 837 5620/ 212 939 2313/ 914 646 5463