APACHA Calling its Asia Regional Meeting in Bangkok

Asian People's Alliance for Combating HIV&AIDS (APACHA) is one of the largest mass based multisectoral people's network in the Asia Region. With a combined effort of like minded networks, trade unions, student unions, women’s rights networks, PLHA groups, sex workers’ networks, lawyers, media, youths, academia and I/NGOS, APACHA has gained significant visibility at the grassroots, national and international levels. We have been able to mobilize thousands of people across Asia in different campaigns. Simultaneously, we have also been able to create political space for alternative policy debates in the region.

As a regional network, we are proud of gaining strong and legitimate grounds at local and national levels; the combined strengths leading to an enviable position makes us truly regional in both action and spirit. The collective and concerted efforts put into fighting HIV & AIDS by country chapters, public platforms, media, website, researches and reports over the period have created considerable space for APACHA to evolve itself as an alternative policy forum to push for policy priorities on issues related to HIV & AIDS in Asia. Besides, our country chapters have been able to build themselves as an alternative forum capable of triggering broader social movements as well. APACHA initiatives, be they at local, regional or international levels, are aimed at creating political space for people to have their say. We are committed to back people’s legitimate struggles in seeking rights, justice and democracy.

We are progressively moving ahead in terms of expanding our constituencies as well. We have different levels of presence in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia concurrently connecting with a number of like minded INGOS/NGOS, networks and alliances in the region.

However, we know there are heaps of challenges and we cannot turn our backs on them. We have raised people’s expectations and thus bear greater responsibilities to address their issues and concerns. Challenges are everywhere and we believe that they have made us stronger. In the mean time, along with our growing constituencies, organized actions, increasing members and supporters we have realized that we have come to a stage to review our strengths and areas to improve. In the mean time, it is high time for us to re- strategize our systems, governance structures and come up with new policy and strategies.

Heeding the suggestions of the Country Chapters, supporters, and potential partners working both at national and international levels; and looking at ourselves in retrospect, fed by our failures, achievements and learning’s, APACHA International Secretariat is organizing an Asia regional meeting from October 21st to October 23rd, 2008 in Bangkok.

A number of representatives from civil society, APACHA country chapters, like minded INGOs, UN agencies, GFATM and social movements are participating in the conference. With APACHA’s strong base in the Country Chapters, we have been able to gain our legitimate grounds, build our systems, and we have started to take organized actions across. Thus we have strongly reflected on the need to take up APACHA initiatives to the next stage. We seek support from all like-minded agencies to be with us in our endeavor in making a difference in Asia and in making a citizen’s Asia.