First Conference for Pacific Parliamentarians on the Role of Pacific Parliamentarians in the Fight against HIV/AIDS, Suva, Fiji, 11-13 October 2004

Introduction

The Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD) hosted a Regional Meeting in Suva, Fiji from 11-13 October 2004 on “The Role of Parliamentarians in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in the Pacific Region” in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD). A number of Parliamentarians from the Pacific region were invited to attend the meeting. Financial assistance was secured from UN agencies and Fiji-based developmental partners and donors.

The meeting participants reaffirmed their commitment to the Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted by the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS, June 2001), the first Asia-Pacific Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS (Melbourne, October 2001) and the second Asia-Pacific Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS (Bangkok, July 2004). They also recalled the endorsement of the Pacific Regional Strategy for HIV/AIDS by Pacific leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting, held in Samoa in August 2004 and covering the period 2004-2008.

 
The conference brought together for the very first time Parliamentarians from the Pacific Region to discuss their role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the region.  The overall chair of the meeting was the Hon. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chair, Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development. The keynote speaker was Dr. Nafis Sadik, Special Envoy of the Secretary General for HIV/AIDS In Asia and the Pacific.  At least 150 people attended the meeting, many of which Parliamentarians from 17 Pacific countries, representatives from UN Agencies, bilateral donors, civil society organizations, PLWHAs and media organizations.

Meeting Objectives:             

1.  To inform Parliamentarians about HIV/AIDS, how it is transmitted, and brief them on the trend of HIV/AIDS in the Pacific region.

2.  To discuss the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a wider development issue and in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

3.  To solicit political support and commitment from Pacific Parliamentarians and national leaders in the fight against the disease

4.  To discuss practical ways to translate political commitments into action that integrates HIV/AIDS prevention and care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) into national policies and programmes.

5.  To foster opportunities for Pacific Parliamentarians and PLWHA to jointly advocate for prevention, treatment and support programmes on HIV/AIDS.

6.  To brief parliamentarians on the regional strategy on HIV/AIDS and other initiatives currently undertaken at both the national and regional levels.

Highlights and outcomes of the meeting 

The Prime Minister of Fiji and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and chair of the PPAPD both acknowledged UNFPA’s role in establishing the Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development and in the support and work done thus far with Parliamentarians on a number of population and development issues. PPAPD membership includes Parliamentarians from 17 Pacific countries, including Australia and New Zealand.

The meeting participants agreed that PPAPD would play a lead role in mobilising technical and financial resources, in close collaboration with regional and international development partners and other stakeholders to facilitate follow-up actions. 

For the first time ever the conference saw the active involvement, participation and sponsorship of all actors involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including UN Agencies and other bilateral donors. The need to better coordinate existing efforts was also highlighted.
 

Overall the meeting was a success. Here are some of the key areas discussed and agreed upon:

a) HIV/AIDS as a broader development issue and a socio-cultural behavioural lifestyle problem, cutting across many of the MDGs. The role of Parliamentarians as protecting their people rather than judging them.

b) Need to work closely and involve people living with HIV/AIDS.

c) Emphasis on prevention as the best weapon in the absence of a cure and vaccine.

d) The need to pay particular attention to women and young people.

e) Importance of linking HIV/AIDS to the broader sexual rights and RH rights framework. The need to go beyond the ABC plus approach and pay attention to family and moral values as part of the Pacific culture and society.

j) How female and male condoms can help offer choices in preventing HIV at very low cost compared to the cost for treatment.

k) The importance of using social research in providing useful information to form the basis for HIV strategy development. 

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss and learn about the various international, regional and national programmes and funding mechanisms that can help Parliamentarians with their national efforts and to put their vision and goals into action. While there were a number of impressive speakers, those who had the biggest impact on Parliamentarians were two women living with HIV, who helped put a human face to the tragedy. 

The meeting concluded with a strong declaration by Pacific Parliamentarians to join regional and national partnerships to combat HIV/AIDS. The Suva Declaration on HIV/AIDS by Pacific Parliamentarians was the end product of the meeting, documenting political commitment and action to combat HIV/AIDS by Pacific Parliamentarians. 

A total of 32 local and international media were accredited and the event received extensive coverage through inter alia Fiji Television, ABC, radios, various print media and Internet-based networks. Dr. Sadik featured in a one-page supplement on the Fiji Times on Monday, 18 October. 

During the Conference, UNFPA gave a presentation on RH commodity security and presented the RHCS Pacific Plan of Action, which was already signed by 8 countries between 2003 and 2004. Several delegations expressed their desire to also endorse such Plan. UNFPA will be following up with them over the coming weeks.

The President of the Fiji Senate gave a presentation on the HIV/AIDS Conference and the Pacific Parliamentarian commitment to the Fight Against HIV/AIDS to his fellow colleagues on Tuesday 19 October. UNFPA was asked to provide relevant material, as a testimony to our work in this area and respect and trust we have gained from Parliament. UNFPA has joined forces with the Speaker’s offices and Parliamentary clerks of the 17 PPAPD member countries to mobilize Parliamentarians as advocates for population and development, including on Reproductive Health.