DUSHANBE, October 9, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Third two-day Inter-Parliament Conference of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan on HIV and AIDS issues kicked off in Dushanbe today. 

According to Andrey Sidorin, CAAP communications coordinator and strategist, the conference is initiated by Tajik parliament, Majlisi Oli, under support of Central Asia AIDS Control Project (CAAP), United Nations AIDS Program (UNAIDS).  The financial support was provided by UNDP Regional Program on HIV/AIDS in the countries of Eastern Europe and CIS as well as UNODC Regional office for Central Asia.      

            Parliamentarians of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan are taking part in the conference.  Heads of ministries of health, justice, interior affairs, labor and social protection of the Central Asian countries, republican AIDS centers and representatives of other governmental, non-governmental and international organizations working in the field of HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment have also been invited to take part in the conference.

The conference aims to discuss the legislative support for measures aimed at HIV infection counteraction as well as the priorities of interregional cooperation. 

Results of Central Asian inter-parliament working group on HIV problem in the field legislative support for measures on HIV and AIDS spread counteraction in frame of regional cooperation will be presented.  They also will get acquaintance with the latest data on HIV infection spread dynamics both worldwide and in Central Asian countries.

Special attention will be paid to the review of normative and legal base of Central Asian countries regarding to the issues of vulnerable groups’ (migrants, prisoners, injecting drug users) access to the prevention measures, treatment, care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA).

The conference is expected to result in adoption of the resolution on results of the Third Inter – Parliament conference of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan on HIV and AIDS issues will be adopted.