MSM AND TRANSGENDER PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Date: Sunday 17th November 2013
Location: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC)

Once again, APCOM is hosting its popular pre-conference focusing on MSM and transgender young people. This stand-alone one-day event is conveniently hosted at the same venue as the main conference, the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). It also links with key Satellite and/or Skills building sessions taking place during the conference.

This is your opportunity to engage in a community dialogue between members of civil society, government policy makers, donors and multi-laterals. Receive an overview of current barriers to programmes and learn about opportunities to strategically work together to map out strategies and solutions for moving forward. Presenters for the pre-conference will include information suitable for people from mixed expertise and work experience.

If you are attending the ICAAP 11 Conference, we highly recommend that you attend the APCOM pre-conference.
ICAAP COMMUNITY FORUM

Date: Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th November 2013
Location: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC)

Join APCOM and take part in the Community Forum organised by our strategic partner, the Coalition of Asia-Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS (7 Sisters), in collaboration with the ICAAP 11 Community Programme Committee. Together with other civil society organisations representing key affected populations, we will discuss issues related to MSM and transgender people living throughout Asia and the Pacific, in relation to the UNAID’s three zeros: Zero new infections, Zero new deaths and Zero discrimination.

The Community Forum will:
Strengthen community networking across the key affected populations,
Develop a common agenda around pre-identified themes of “Zero Money, Zero Political Will, Zero Legal Reform”,
Ensure diverse community voices and feeds into the opening ceremony of ICAAP 11.
POST CONFERENCE RECEPTION PARTY
Date: Friday 22nd November 2013
Location: Soi 4 Silom Road

After a week of busy conference attendance, side meetings, lunches and dinners – it is time to wind down. Come and join the other conference attendees at the heart of Bangkok’s gay zone for a few farewell drinks. APCOM has partnered with other community organisations in Bangkok working with the MSM, transgender and PLHIV community to bring you this farewell event.

SATELLITE AND SKILL BUILDING SESSIONS, ICAAP 11 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES

As major funders undergo transition periods or deprioritise their commitments to HIV and AIDS, APCOM is collaborating with a number of agencies and partners on a programme that continues advocacy efforts to:

Seek new partnerships with faith-based leaders,
Tackle access to health and rights especially for transgender people,
Highlight the plight of younger people in our communities and their vulnerabilities to HIV,
Look at a city-based model of HIV response for MSM and transgender people,
Join us to learn new skills, information, make new contacts, but above all, share your own country experiences. Our two skills building sessions on MSM and transgender advocacy, and the use of social media, will build up the core skills of our advocates to identify and articulate key issues, conduct effective and well planned advocacy on key community issues, and build strong partnerships MSM and transgender responses towards HIV and human rights in Asia and the Pacific.

1) FRIDAY, 22ND NOVEMBER 2013, 14:00 – 15:30

FAITH AND SEXUALITY: A DIALOGUE WITH FAITH-BASED LEADERS

Organisers

Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
International AIDS Society (IAS)
OBJECTIVES

To create and strengthen dialogue with prominent and supportive faith-based leaders in the region for MSM and transgender people that would help to foster greater understanding and trust, leading to concrete programme collaboration.

2) THURSDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 2013, 14:00 – 15:30

ENSURING NEEDS BASED AND STIGMA-FREE HIV/STI SERVICES FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN ASIA

Organisers

Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN)
Joint United Nations AIDS Programme (UNAIDS)
World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Offices for Western Pacific (WPRO) and South-East Asia (SEARO)
OBJECTIVES

To raise awareness, advocate for necessary actions, and provide technical guidance for national response.
To understand socio-cultural factors driven risk behaviours and magnitude of HIV and STI epidemics among transgender people in selected countries
To identify needs based service delivery model addressing barriers and facilitators for screening, prevention, and treatment of HIV/ STI and other health needs for transgender people
3) FRIDAY, 22ND NOVEMBER 2013, 14:15 – 15:45

YMSM UNDERESTIMATE: OUTING THE HIV CRISIS AMONG YOUNG MALES

Organisers

Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Joint United Nations AIDS Programme (UNAIDS)
Youth Voices Count (YVC)
OBJECTIVES

To review the latest strategic epidemiology and identify environmental enablers to reduce HIV among young MSM in Asia

4) THURSDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 2013, 15:45 – 17:15

CITY BASED APPROACHES FOR WORKING WITH MSM AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Organisers

Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) Supported by AusAID
OBJECTIVES

To discuss future directions of investment in MSM and transgender responses to HIV and human rights in Southeast Asia, particularly models of city based approaches.
5) WEDNESDAY, 20TH NOVEMBER 2013, 14:00 – 15:30

SELF-STIGMA AMONG YOUNG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN & THE LINKAGES WITH HIV

Organisers

Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
Youth Voices Count (YVC)

OBJECTIVES

To highlight the findings of community-led research in countries across Asia on how self-stigma among young MSM and transgender women affects their vulnerability to HIV and sexual risk-taking
To engage policymakers, programmers and civil society in a dialogue as to how HIV prevention programmes could better address self-stigma and related issues as one aspect of a comprehensive prevention approach
SKILLS BUILDING SESSIONS

1) THURSDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 2013, 10:15 – 13:15

STRENGTHENING POLICY AND ADVOCACY SKILLS FOR MSM AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCATES

Organisers

Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO)
Supported by AusAID

OBJECTIVES

To strengthen the capacity of MSM and transgender advocates to identify and articulate key issues; conduct effective, and well planned advocacy on key community issues; and to build strong partnerships and platforms to support their advocacy objectives.
2) FRIDAY, 22ND NOVEMBER 2013, 10:00 – 13:00

MORE THAN ‘LIKES’ AND ‘FOLLOWERS’- CAPITALISING ON ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS

Organisers

Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
AIDS Council of NSW (ACON)
Supported by Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund

OBJECTIVES

To explore online technology, social media and other communication tools in order to promote your organisation, network or service. To use these tools to build stronger interventions for the MSM and transgender responses towards HIV and human rights in Asia and the Pacific.
Symposium

THE LANCET 2013 MSM AND HIV SERIES: REGIONAL LAUNCH

WEDNESDAY, 20ST NOVEMBER, 10:30 – 12:00

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are among the most heavily burdened groups for HIV infection, and for limited access to prevention, treatment and care in many settings. The Lancet MSM series takes account of the realities of the lives of MSM, the epidemiology of HIV among the highly diverse global communities of gay, bisexual, and other MSM, and their HIV prevention and other health care needs. The series includes seven linked, comprehensive reviews and five invited commentaries. The reviews to be presented in this session include: the Global Epidemiology of HIV among MSM, HIV Prevention, Caring for the Whole Man, the Politics of Homophobia in the Asia Pacific Region, Community Responses and Leadership, and a Call to Action for MSM and HIV.

See more at: http://www.apcom.org/icaap11