The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) wraps up a three day meeting in Bangkok today on HIV/AIDS in the region. Though the overall infection rate in the Asia-Pacific region is dropping and more people living with HIV/AIDS have access to treatment, infection rates in some low-prevalence countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines are increasing and there are still many legal and social barriers to prevention and treatment. The meeting focused on these barriers and on how to reduce infection in high-risk groups including men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people, sex workers, and injecting drug users.
-Avory Faucette
