Just over one month has passed since Asia Catalyst staff and a delegation of four Chinese health rights advocates participated in the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP). Before the group could join the 3,800 participants from 74 countries in Bangkok, three months of intensive preparation, and nearly a year of planning was necessary.
Asia Catalyst held an open call for delegates wishing to receive support, and provided successful applicants with assistance preparing conference materials, applying for scholarships, and arranging travel. More importantly, Asia Catalyst provided translation, helped coordinate joint advocacy action, and provided assistance setting up meetings.
As part of Asia Catalyst’s call for applications, each delegate prepared a conference abstract highlighting best practices and lessons learned in their work, and received feedback and edits from Asia Catalyst staff before submitting them to be presented at the congress. Aside from presentations that were part of the official congress program, Asia Catalyst also arranged roundtables in the congress’s community program, and had an exhibition booth where delegates were able to highlight their work, and Asia Catalyst distributed resources to groups from around the region.
Lanlan, a sex worker rights activist, who actively used the Asia Catalyst community booth and other outreach avenues to promote her organization says looking back: “At the Asia Catalyst booth, I got the chance to meet with the leadership of various foundations. It is the best feeling to get the opportunity to promote your organization. For me, these dialogues were a chance to give detailed description of our organization’s work, which is the best way of promotion. […] Attending this meeting made me gather new hope when thinking about the Chinese sex workers and that we should not feel] work not feel left alone when working for them.”
Wang Baoyi, of the China HIV/AIDS CBO Network agreed on the importance of the congress. “I think I was very much able to promote my organization at the conference. Through giving my speech during an oral session, I was able to inform my friends from the Asia-Pacific region about the basic situation of my organization and the joint meetings we organize. […] For me it was the first time at such a meeting and it helped me tremendously in my work.”
The delegation’s ICAAP agenda was filled with opportunities to meet international experts. Wang Baoyi was also among the delegates who met with the International Labor Organization: “I met the Asia-Pacific region representative of the ILO and I was able to clarify my advocacy proposal. I specifically talked about the life and health status of people living with AIDS in Henan. ILO’s Asia-Pacific representative took serious interest in my issue […].” Also able to meet with the ILO, and regional UN agencies, Xiao Mi says she realized that “Anything can be done. Supposedly very distant organs are actually not far away at all.” Wei Tingting, also made an important realization: “I learned to be a strong voice, especially at international conferences.”
The twelfth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific will be held in Bangladesh in 2015. As part of our post-congress evaluation, Asia Catalyst will evaluate the impact and opportunities presented by international conferences, and will consult with local partners to determine what ways we can improve on their experiences in the future.
