APEC statement on HIV/AIDS
APEC's 21 Member Economies have delivered a statement outlining APEC's efforts in confronting the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the XVI International AIDS Conference being held in Toronto this week.
APEC Leaders and Ministers recognize the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS in the APEC region and have made it an increasingly important component of the APEC Human Security Agenda .
They have instructed government departments in all economies to work together to combat AIDS and to provide people living with HIV/AIDS every opportunity to live with dignity as productive working members of society.
Ongoing efforts include improving the management of HIV/AIDS in the workplace. APEC initiatives call for the provision of HIV/AIDS education for employees at all levels and include programs to encourage employers to adopt the International Labour Organization's Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS.
A series of APEC capacity building projects have been undertaken to enhance the skills of government departments to better respond to the spread of HIV/AIDS and to improve the living standards of people already living with HIV/AIDS.
This has included projects to gain a better understanding of the situation of migrant-mobile workers and their enhanced vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
APEC Ministers have also stressed the need to enhance prevention, treatment, and care capacity in developing economies, including the provision of anti-retroviral drugs in developing economies.
APEC continues to cooperate with specialized international organizations in dealing with HIV/AIDS including United Nations agencies such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).