Interview with former Asia Pacific Delegate Jules Kim

What were some of the highlights for you being part of the UNAIDS PCB NGO delegation?

My highlights have been collaboration among different community members and key populations, hearing issues from other regions about differences and similarities in the issues that key populations have to face and barriers in the HIV response. Working together and advocating on shared goals and issues was a definite highlight. I had the privilege and opportunity to represent the NGO delegation on the Multi Stakeholder Task Force for the High Level Meeting on HIV as well as representative roles on committees, including on the UN Advisory Group for the then incoming ED Winnie Byanyima. I was also the focal point on the Global Partnership for Action to End All Forms of HIV Related Stigma and Discrimination which came about from an idea from another previous Asia Pacific NGO Delegate Jeff Acaba, so I felt proud to carry on an important legacy from the NGO Delegation.??

Importantly, UNAIDS was the first UN entity to have civil society as part of its governing body and critical decisions are decided at the PCB that affects UNAIDS and the global AIDS response. This means being involved in the programmatic decisions, including policy, finances, strategy and monitoring and evaluation of UNAIDS.?Holding this space for civil society on the governance body of UNAIDS is essential. Like so many of our spaces of influence, the role of civil society in the PCB via the NGO Delegation is frequently challenged by certain member states. It happened twice during my time on the delegation! Both times it was rewarding strategising and working together with other delegates, civil society, and supportive partners, including within the joint programme and member states to defend the vital role of civil society at the PCB. The NGO Report we worked on about the important role and impact of the NGO Delegation in the PCB over the past 25 years, reaffirming through agreed decision points the value of civil society on the governance of UNAIDS as best practice.?

The meetings can be extremely intense and challenging but they are also meaningful. I think the critical role the delegation plays is in bringing forth an independent voice to the PCB reflecting the lived realities of HIV and AIDS for folks on the ground. Often it is a much needed reality check in what can become a very political space.?

What were some of the challenges of the UNAIDS PCB NGO delegation?

During the time I was in the PCB - it was a very busy period as a new Global AIDS strategy was being developed, and the High-Level Meetings for the 2021 Political Declaration were taking place, and there was leadership change within UNAIDS. We also had to adapt to working online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.?

Being part of the PCB is a big sense of responsibility and a lot of work but it was also interesting, and exciting. Due to the time difference it was challenging for me. A lot of the important work and meetings happen in between the PCB meetings, so many meetings would be held past midnight for me. And then of course you have to balance this with your day job and then turn up for work the next morning after late night calls.??

That said, being part of extremely challenging but incredibly positive processes through a strong Global AIDS strategy, and despite some setbacks and omissions, these filtered through to some strong commitments during the High-Level meeting which resulted in positive language in the Political Declaration such as the 10 10 10 targets on societal enablers and 30 80 60 targets on community led service delivery, including for prevention and advocacy. It was a notable setback that for the first time in history, the resolution was adopted by voting, despite the efforts and concessions made to reach consensus with some hostile member states. Sitting through meetings as a member of a key population and being subject to what could essentially be characterised as hateful speech by some of the representatives of member states can be extremely challenging. The level of opposition to an evidence and rights based response to HIV and AIDS by some member states- proven interventions such as addressing structural and social barriers, harm reduction, community empowerment, TRIPS waivers and decriminalisation- despite the mountains of evidence of their need and successes can be extremely frustrating!??

Do you have any tips for someone who is thinking of joining the UNAIDS PCB representing Asia and the Pacific?

Working together with the regional networks is important, and that you and your organisation on the PCB need to ensure that you?are representing across all the key populations and communities, and not putting forward your own personal or organisational viewpoints or priorities.?We have so much diversity in the Asia Pacific region so, it is very critical to listen and consult with PCB colleagues, country partners and regional networks.?The person needs to have skills in reaching out, utilising contacts and networks, listening and to always aim to genuinely represent the whole region.

The Asia-Pacific representative needs strong, passionate advocacy but also a great deal of patience too. I think it takes a good balance of diplomacy. watchdogging, meaningful consultation and representation.?And remember although it is new territory, the NGO?Delegate is well supported by the CCF (Communication and Consultation Facility) and Secretariat, and the other delegates will also provide support, and of course don't feel shy to seek support from past delegates too. They can provide a great deal of tips and advice from their experiences on the PCB.

What are the opportunities for the Asia Pacific NGO delegations to take forward for our region?

There have been some significant successes but there is still a lot of work to be done in the Asia-Pacific region.?

We must continue to highlight the lack of resourcing and attention to issues for key populations, who alongside their partners still account for 96% of new infections in the Asia Pacific region. This is no surprise given the shrinking spaces for civil society, disinvestment in HIV responses in the region and the regressive laws targeting the key population community including laws criminalizing sex work, criminalizing drug use, and criminalizing SOGIESC. Despite some key achievements, progress in the region continues to be very uneven and unequal, with some concerning increases in new infections evidenced in a number of countries.?It will be vital to have a strong voice from the Asia Pacific region representing these ongoing issues that are often not given enough attention and for the communities that are too often left behind.?

Do you and your organisation want to apply?

Please visit?our website with all information about the recruitment process for this position.

This article was originally posted on the website of?APCOM.