Dear Participants

I wish to extend a very warm “Selamat Datang” to all participants of this ASEAN Regional Workshop on HIV/AIDS: Addressing Stigma and Discrimination.

AIDS, which knows no borders, has been the cause of many whole families being broken, children becoming orphans. AIDS kills males, females, rich, old and children of all races from all communities without conscience and remorse.

It is unfortunate that young people represent half of the new HIV infections. This is an unacceptable situation that must be reversed. As the majority of young sufferers of HIV/AIDS are young people in the developing countries, it is important that prevention efforts be more focused on them. Young people are responsive to HIV prevention programmes and are effective promoters of HIV prevention action.

Stigma and discrimination has seen many people who are living with the disease shying away from talking about the disease and seeking treatment. This is due to the fear that society at large has not been ready to accept them. We must then ask ourselves what is it that we can do to tackle this ugly scenario and address the missing link. If we don’t then there is every possibility of seeing a new generation being wipe out.

This workshop will address three programme areas under the ASEAN Work Programme on HIV/AIDS II (2002-2005) i.e. positive environment, education programme, life-skills training for youth and strengthening regional coordination among agencies working on youth in the ASEAN region.

It is pertinent that we include young people in every sphere of the decision making process. The outcome of this workshop is setting up of the ASEAN Regional Youth Network for future sharing in the areas of information sharing, cooperation and collaboration on issues concerning HIV/AIDS. The setting up of this network is an important step towards promoting young people’s voice and I wish you every success.

Thank you.