HIV/AIDS and Human Rights

The APF Regional Workshop on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions was held in Melbourne, Australia, 7-8 October 2001 in collaboration with Sixth International Congress on AIDS in the Asia Pacific (ICAAP).

The purpose of the workshop was to enhance awareness of and cooperation on HIV/AIDS related human rights issues in the Asia Pacific region through the promotion and strengthening of national human rights institutions.

The objectives of the workshop were to increase the understanding of the role of national human rights institutions in addressing HIV/AIDS-related human rights issues through enabling discussion of issues; facilitating joint activity on issues and in areas of mutual interest and commitment; encouraging the development of joint projects, training programs and staff exchanges; and to develop practical strategies for national human rights institutions to use in addressing HIV/AIDS-related human rights issues.

Workshop participants included APF members, representatives from UNAIDS and the OHCHR and representatives from other national human rights institutions and non-government organisations.

Financial and technical support was provided by UNAIDS, the OHCHR and the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON).