The Intersessional Meeting on Human Security and HIV/AIDS was convened in Bangkok from January 21-22, 2002. The meeting aimed at creating awareness and common understanding about the issues of human security and HIV/AIDS in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region-GMS; increasing the visibility of human security concept in the GMS where common human security threats are shared and developing strategies to cope with those threats; and reaffirming political will and commitment generated at regional and international conferences on HIV/AIDS issue. Highlight of some salient points are as follows:

1. The meeting was well represented by almost all members of the Human Security Network, the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, NGOs, UN agencies concerned and academicians. Unfortunately, Cambodia could not participate in the meeting due to some last minute technical reason. There were about 100 participants altogether. This meeting signified the growing importance and awareness of human security and its linkage with HIV/AIDS issue, particularly in the GMS region, and hopefully to be further expanded elsewhere. A variety of perspectives among panelists from different fields- academician, NGO turned Senator, businessman turned NGO, and UN representatives- was highly noted.

2. H.E. Dr. Pracha Guna-Kasem, Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Thailand gave an opening statement highlighting Thailand’s policy on development and security which put human dimension at its heart. He mentioned that HIV/AIDS was both a threat to the right to life, the right to live and the right to human dignity, and a threat to acquiring a decent living standard. He expressed the hope that the conceptual aspects of human security and HIV/AIDS were to be materialized in the GMS region.

3. Keynote addresses were also given by three distinguished representatives, namely, Mr. Phan Wannamethee, Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross Society, emphasizing that the lives of vulnerable HIV/AIDS infected people would be improved through the mobilization of the power of humanity; Mr. Ulf Kristoffersson, Humanitarian Coordinator, Social Mobilization and Information Department, UNAIDS-Geneva, mentioning that HIV/AIDS unquestionably became one of the major threats to human security today, attacking economic security, social security and military security and the challenge lied in how best to solve this urgent issue at national, regional and international levels, including fighting a crucial new Asia battleground; and Mr. Heng Sokrithy, Coordinator of the Cambodian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS telling a story of the plight of HIV/AIDS positive people, their vulnerability and social marginalization and believing that the participants had the power to make a difference to help protect the rights and personnal safety of people living with HIV/AIDS.

4. Participants shared the views that HIV/AIDS was a development as well as a security issue which needed concerted efforts at national, regional and international levels to tackle root causes of this deadly disease. Effective strategy to cope with this problem should focus on multi-sectoral approach involving all sectors of the society, particularly people living with HIV/AIDS. The meeting echoed the need to strengthen quality sex education, social support, and more importantly, sustainability of political will and HIV/AIDS national policy. The right to health was highlighted, particularly relating to equal and universal access to medication, care and treatment.

5. The Human Security Network members felt that the Human Security Network could play an important role in accelerating the process of translating and implementing the political will and commitment of common security concerns such as HIV/AIDS. Some Network members also deemed it important to have a regional perspective on human security issues and to share it within the Network. This would help the Network to have a whole picture of human security issues, reflecting different priority in each region.

6. As a further step, Thailand, in consultation with the GMS countries, concerned United Nations agencies, international organizations, NGOs, civil society and business sector, would develop a programme on human security and HIV/AIDS in the sub-region. Such programme should be based on priority and needs on HIV/AIDS of the GMS countries. Thailand will report further progress on the joint efforts to the upcoming Ministerial meeting in Chile.

7. Apart from the discussions in the meeting room, participants also had an opportunity to make field visits to the Bangkruay District Hospital with community involvement programme, the Rohm Apollo Electronics, Co. Ltd. with HIV/AIDS policy in the workplace, the Mercy Center - a NGO hospice for HIV/AIDS patients, and the Thai Red Cross Society.

8. Thailand, as the organizer, hopes that through the discussions during the meeting and the experience gained from the field visits, the Network has strengthened our human security concept by rightfully addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS in the human security context. Moreover, putting HIV/AIDS in the human security context will reaffirm our political will and commitment in addressing the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS at national, regional and global levels and to ensure human security for all.

Department of International Organizations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
February 2002

Note: Detail of the discussions can be found in the Chairman’s Summary of the Meeting.