Representatives from APACHA Country Chapters- Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Indonesia- representatives from civil society, International and national organizations, communities and people working on policies were gathered together in Bangkok to share their achievements, learning, and challenges at various levels and to develop a new governance strategy, governing team and APACHA Asia Strategy for APACHA's next phase mission. Representatives from UNAIDS, The Global Fund and other regional networks also participated in the meeting. The meeting was held from 21st - 23rd of October.
Prabodh Devkota, Asia coordinator of APACHA in his welcome speech said, "Within a four year's time frame APACHA has been able to establish itself as one of the largest mass based people's networks and one of the leading advocacy institutions in the Asian region. Our commitment, passion, team work, political perspectives and a political will to take side of the most marginalized sections of the society has made us different from many others."
New Nwe, representative from UNAIDS Asia shared, "I remember four years back when APACHA had just started its journey and now while looking at its constituencies and the credible advocacy work and campaigns that APACHA has been doing, it has proved that we can make a difference collectively."
Joe Thomas the newly elected Chair person of APACHA said, "The only multisectoral regional network of Asia, APACHA has been strong evidence in multisectoral mobilization. On top of every thing, we are coming up from the ground and this is what makes us different."
APACHA Asia Regional meeting held in Bangkok from 21st- 23rd of October, 2008 has elected APACHA Executive Committee. Members in the EC are representative of Country Chapters, Regional Networks and Forums, International Secretariat, past APACHA Coordination Committee members and leaders from Asia. Elected members represent different constituencies which are inclusive of Youths, Women Movement, PLHIV, Academicians, Health Activists, Researchers, Faith Based Institutions and grassroots activists.
This is an ad- hoc committee which has been given mandate for next 18 month. Based on the feedbacks given by the participants of the Bangkok Meeting, this team has been responsible in developing strategy and drafting and implementing detail governance structures both at the International level as well as at the country levels. Based on the feedbacks of Bangkok meeting team is also responsible to come up with APACHA HIV Strategy. EC is responsible in providing mandate to the International Secretariat to coordinate, lead and facilitate overall APACHA initiatives in coordination with country chapters.
Most importantly EC is also responsible to elect member for APACHA General Assembly representing leaders and activists from different constituencies such as youths, trade unions, human rights, women's movement, Dalits movements, academia, media, lawyers, faith based organizations and other
like minded actors from each member countries.
Newly elected APACHA Executive Committee
- Dr. Joe Thomas- Chair
- Dr. Noor Ul Zaman Rafiq- Co- Chair
- Dr. Anita Manandhar - Treasurer
- Mr. Prabodh Devkota- Member Secretary and Coordinator for APACHA International Secretariat
Members:
- Dr. Zahed Mohammad Masud
- Ms. Noori Saleem
- Mr. Mohammad Abdus Sabur
- Ms. Titin Rejeki
- Mr. Pham Thanh Van
- Mr. Hiranya Joshi
- Ms Pheng Pharozin
During the three days workshop, participants from countries presented HIV&AIDS situation in their countries and they also presented APACHA's strengths and areas to improve. An in depth analysis on the overall HIV&AIDS scenario in Asia and HIV response in the region was also shared by participants. Based on the new emerging challenges, APACHA team has revised its HIV&AIDS response Strategy for next three years; the Executive Committee has been finalizing APACHA Asia HIV strategy. There was also a serious discussion on the global fund and CCM. Representative from the Global Fund Artashes Mirzoyan had presented his perspectives in the meeting.
John Samuel, the International Director of Actionaid shared his view, "Within its four years' time APACHA has gone through various ups and downs and now it has come to a stage where we can feel proud of. APAHA has been a unique initiative of Asia which has brought a number of like minded
actors coming together and working for a cause."
Noori Saleem representative from TASA ALLAINCE - INDIA and the newly elected board member of APACHA said, APACHA has created such a common forum where organizations and people working on various other fields are coming together. This is high time for Asia now to mobilize other different
organizations, which are not working on the issues of HIV&AIDS, on the issues around HIV&AIDS. What I like about this network is the open critical space that it has created for everyone."
Participants of the Bangkok Meeting
Bangkok meeting also discussed about the emerging economic global crisis and its possible economic consequences. In the press statement released during the Bangkok meeting APACHA calls for:
- The Governments to "Keep the Promise!" Financial crisis should not be an excuse to turn away from the promises they have made.
- UNAIDS to develop a global advocacy strategy to address the impact of financial crisis on HIV response, with particular emphasis on the poor, marginalized and vulnerable population groups.
- Global Fund must ensure a preferential option for the poor in all their future grant makings.
- Civil society to be vigilant and monitor the impact of the economic crisis on HIV responses, particularly on the poor, marginalized and vulnerable population groups.
