UNDP Report on Trafficking and HIV in South Asia

From the YouandAIDS website - the UNDP's HIV/AIDS portal for Asia Pacific:

"A new independent regional research study commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with financial support from the Government of Japan has revealed an alarming trend of trafficking of girls and women and HIV infection in South Asia. South Asia accounts for more than half of the 300,000 to 450,000 people estimated to be trafficked in Asia each year.

The study, which was launched here today, has found that a large number of those at the risk of being trafficked in South Asia are young girls and women and they also run the risk of getting infected with HIV. The highest reported incidence of this double burden is in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, the study said. Factors such as gender inequality, violence and lack of economic opportunities for women increase their risk to both trafficking and HIV. Younger girls are at higher risk of trafficking as well as HIV.

Titled “Human Trafficking and HIV: Exploring Vulnerabilities and Responses in South Asia,” the analysis in this report is based on rapid assessment studies conducted in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan between 2004 and 2005. These studies explored the links between human trafficking, migration and HIV/AIDS in these countries and reviewed available data, the national laws, policies, strategies and responses.

To address human trafficking and HIV/AIDS the study recommends better coordination in national efforts to address both issues, which are often dealt separately, by focusing on factors such as gender inequalities and violence, social marginalization, poverty, and education. Better conceptual clarity on the issues concerned; integrating trafficking and HIV interventions into key sectors; and laws and policies to address both HIV and trafficking are other recommendations of the Study."

The study and a full summary are available at http://www.youandaids.org/8ICAAP/Human%20Trafficking%20and%20HIV.asp
http://www.undp.org/hiv/docs/alldocs/human_traffick_hiv_undp2007.pdf