The Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent HIV Network (ART) was established as part of the overall response to the recommendations enshrined in the Beijing declaration, signed by all National Societies attending the forth Asia-Pacific Conference in May 1993. ART is a regional network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ HIV and AIDS professionals, from South East and East Asia. The ART members are nominated by their National Societies represent them in the network.

ART assists to strengthen National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies’ capacity to deliver and sustain scaled-up HIV programmes which seek to promote the respect of human rights in all aspects through the:

  • Prevention of further HIV infections
  • Expanding HIV care, treatment, and support
  • Reducing HIV stigma and discrimination

ART collaborates and cooperates with the Federation and its representatives, Asia-Pacific Network of people living with HIV (PLHIV) (APN+) and other networks in responding to the requests and needs of National Societies in developing strategies and activities which focus on HIV and AIDS within the region.

The Federation Regional Delegation has a key role in supporting ART to ensure that their work remains in keeping with the overall aims and objectives of the Federation’s Global HIV strategy which also includes the Global Alliance on HIV and AIDS framework.

ART promotes National Societies participation in HIV activities by:
a) Providing a forum for the exchange and pooling of information, resources, ideas and experiences among National Societies
b) Providing capacity building opportunities for National Societies
c) Encouraging a positive environment within National Societies to establish and develop HIV programmes
d) Encouraging National Societies to contribute to their national HIV programmes
e) Advocating the Red Cross and Red Crescent commitments to HIV priorities
f) Facilitating National Societies access to financial and technical resources

ART ensures relevant inter-country collaboration on HIV issues by:
a) Monitoring training needs of National Societies and encouraging appropriate activities including workshops, study visits, exchange of information, materials and other resources
b) Promoting collaborative interventions on common issues on cross-border areas
c) Promoting inter-country interventions on common interests and issues among National Societies

  1. Brunei Red Crescent Society
  2. Cambodian Red Cross Society
  3. Hong Kong Red Cross Society
  4. Indonesian Red Cross Society
  5. Japanese Red Cross Society
  6. Lao Red Cross Society
  7. Malaysian Red Crescent
  8. Mongolian Red Cross Society
  9. Myanmar Red Cross Society
  10. Philippine Red Cross
  11. Vietnam Red Cross
  12. Red Cross Society of China
  13. Thai Red Cross
  14. The Republic of Korea National Red Cross
  15. Timor Leste Red Cross Society
  16. Australian Red Cross
  1. ART comprises of core members from National Societies in South East Asia and East Asia, and collaborating members from National Societies outside these regions.
  2. Membership of a National Society in ART is permanent as long as they meet their obligations as an ART member; however a National Society also retains the right to withdraw from the network if desired, by giving notice at an ART meeting or in writing to the ART Secretariat.
  3. ART representative must fulfill the obligations stated in Annexure 1: Roles and Responsibilities.
  4. The representative of the National Society will serve in ART for at least a term of two years; however it is desirable that the same representative continue to serve for several terms, where possible.
  5. If a representative does not meet these obligations or is unable to attend two consecutive ART annual meetings, the National Society should recommend another person who will serve the remainder of those terms and be considered for future terms.
  6. New members nominated by their National Society should submit their CV and a short statement demonstrating how they meet the selection criteria for ART members. This should include a comment on how they will feedback the lessons learned and decisions from ART meetings to the NS leadership.
  7. ART will comprise of HIV professionals and/or people directly involved in relevant activities within their National Societies HIV programmes. Only in exceptional circumstances – to be determined by the ART Management Team – will temporary substitutions be entertained.
  8. Every two years ART members will elect a Chairperson and Management Team at the Annual ART meeting. The Chair will serve for two calendar years. The Chair in collaboration with the ART Management Team will oversee ART planning activities, budget, direction/agenda setting and maintaining communication among ART members.
  9. Collaborating members are unable to take up ART Management Team or Chair positions and also are unable to vote for management team, chair and other related ART decisions.
  10. ART members contribute an annual membership fee of at least $1000 USD.

Network Officers (2016 – 2017):

Chairperson: Dr. Va Sopheak: Head, CD/NCD Sub Department – Cambodian Red Cross

Management Team Members:

  • Yoshiteru Tsuji: Director, Development Cooperation Division, International Department – Japanese Red Cross Society
  • Eka Wulan Cahyasari: Head of Public Health Subdivision, Health & Social Services Division – Indonesian Red Cross
Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent ART HIV/AIDS Network

    E-mail: Health Officer, Dr. Pornsak Khortwong (PK), at pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org 

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    Guiding Documents

    Federation HIV/AIDS Policy (2002) - HIV
    South East Asian Four Year HIV/AIDS PLAN, 2012 – 2015 - HIV
    Guidelines on harm reduction related to injecting drug use: Spreading the light of science - HIV
    This IFRC Health Advocacy Report depicts the stark reality of what it means to be an injecting drug user and living with HIV. It examines the prevention, treatment, care and support needs of this most at-risk population and the IFRC's response to their plight. It also offers National Societies and the reader an advocacy tool that can be used for years to come. The aim? To remind governments and National Societies of the obligation to respect the human rights of injecting drug users at risk of, or living with, HIV. Although our focus is global, we place a special emphasis on Eastern Europe and Central Asia where the situation is becoming increasingly dire.

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