Congratulatory Message
Dato’ Chua Jui Meng
Minister of Health Malaysia

I would like to thank the organizers for organizing this ASEAN Regional Workshop on HIV/AIDS: Addressing Stigma and Discrimination.

Live and let Live is the 2002 -2003 World AIDS Campaign slogan. The campaign challenges us to ensure that all people, with or without HIV, can realize their human rights and live in dignity.

Stigma in relation to HIV/AIDS comes mostly from fear and hostility about the disease or the population most affected by the disease. When stigmatization turns into action, it becomes discrimination. HIV related stigmatization and discrimination build on pre-existing stereotypes and inequalities come from older practices and beliefs towards others, specifically towards people of a different sexual orientation, gender, race or social status.

I welcome the fact that as part of our efforts to involve young people in the fight against this deadly disease the World Youth Foundation is providing an important platform by bringing together youth representatives from the ASEAN region to discuss some very important objectives. Young people should be provided with a forum of networking, sharing and initiating new ideas to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS among them and should be encouraged or empowered to do so.

The important objective - to initiate a regional youth network is most welcomed and I wish all of you every success in realizing this very important milestone.