Despite evidence, establishing male-to-male sex as one of the driving forces of HIV transmission in the Asia and Pacific region, few strategic interventions address male-to-male and transgender sexualities and related HIV vulnerabilities.

In recognition of the need for building and strengthening interventions addressing HIV related vulnerabilities of males who have sex with males (MSM) in the Region; a Male Sexual Health and HIV in Asia and the Pacific - International Consultation was organised in New Delhi , India from September 23-26, 2006, with the tagline "Risks & Responsibilities."

This regional consultation brought together 380 governments, policy-makers, donors, researchers, grassroots and community based organisations from 22 countries across the Asia-Pacific region providing a space for dialogue, learning, networking, and skills building, towards enabling the expansion, strengthening and scaling up of strategies addressing sexual health and related HIV vulnerabilities in relation to males who have sex with males and transgender people. In addition, the consultation provided an opportunity to inform and develop strategic advocacy initiatives and deliberate on key policies related to these issues.

The main objectives of this three-day meeting were:
•  Generating and sharing knowledge and learning on technical, social, policy, rights and
    resources issues relevant to male-to-male and transgender sexual behaviours and HIV
    in Asia and the Pacific;
•  Identification of obstacles and challenges that impede scaling-up of MSM and HIV-
   specific programmes and services;
•  Informing the formulation of strategies and programmes for improving and expanding
   'MSM and HIV'-specific prevention, treatment, care
   and support interventions and services.

The theme of the consultation is "Risks & Responsibilities", signifying the risks faced by MSM and transgender people due to their sexual practices and cultural vulnerabilities, and the risks of not addressing them with adequate and appropriate HIV prevention, treatment care and support interventions. This also flags the responsibilities that MSM and transgender people have towards protecting themselves and their partners, and the responsibilities of governments, donors and other stakeholders in ensuring resources and environments that enable good-quality programmes and services for prevention, treatment, care and support for MSM.

The larger goal of this consultation was to catalyse and enhance coordinated responses through increased commitment among national and international stakeholders, in tandem with the real needs of males-who-have sex with males and transgender people. This would lead to intensified HIV and sexual health interventions with appropriate and supportive policies and adequate funding.

The outcomes of the "Risks & Responsibilities" Consultation included:
•  A Declaration of Collaboration by policymakers, civil society and donors
•  An agreed set of principles on good practice
• An enhanced knowledge base on the technical, social and policy issues relevant to male-to-male and transgender sexual behaviours in Asia and the Pacific
• Recommendations for action regarding issues such as resources allocation, epidemiology, intervention strategies, rights and legal issues. In short: strategies that will facilitate and assure inclusion of male-to-male sexuality in national and sub-national HIV frameworks for action.
•  Identification of key strategic advocacy initiatives and policies that need to be developed and maintained in relation to MSM, sexual health and HIV vulnerabilities.
•  A pan Asia/Pacific regional network of organisations and institutions to generate region-wide coordinated advocacy for policy change, socialjustice, rights, and an equitable allocation of public resources for HIV interventions, care, treatment and other services. This network will ensure that MSM and transgender issues remain on the HIV agenda in Asia and the Pacific and at all relevant national and regional HIV conferences and meetings.

The 55th edition of Pukaar, October 2006 has coverage of this consultation meeting.
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