Introduction

1. Cognizant of the serious impact of the AIDS epidemic on the social and economic development of countries of the Asian and Pacific region, and recognizing the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination at the regional, subregional and intercountry levels in support of those countries' responses to HIV and AIDS, the Regional Interagency Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RICAP) established on 25 May 1994 the Subcommittee on HIV/AIDS as one of its subsidiaries.

2. This document sets out the terms of reference of the Subcommittee.

Functions

3. Facilitate cooperation among UN bodies and agencies, international, regional and subregional agencies and organizations, through networking and information exchange;

4. Identify those HIV/AIDS related issues that are best addressed at the regional, subregional or intercountry levels;

5. Identify areas where organizations operating at the regional, subregional or intercountry levels could enhance their effectiveness by increasing complementarity and avoiding duplication;

6. Initiate and pursue joint planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS-related activities at the regional, subregional or intercountry levels.

Geographical emphasis

7. While the Subcommittee will consider regional, subregional or intercountry activities covering all members and associate members of ESCAP, it will, for operational reasons, initially focus on countries of South-East Asia.

Membership

8. The core members of the Subcommittee will consist of representatives of UN bodies and agencies supporting HIV/AIDS-related activities in the Asian and Pacific region at the regional, subregional or intercountry levels. For the first meeting, the convenor will invite potential members to designate a representative who will regularly participate in the meetings of the Subcommittee.

9. Any organization working at the regional, subregional or intercountry levels may apply for or may be invited to apply for membership in writing to the Chairperson of the Subcommittee. Membership applications will be reviewed by the Subcommittee and decided with simple majority.

Organization

10. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) will be the convener of the Subcommittee, ESCAP will provide secretariat support for the Subcommittee.

11. The Subcommittee will elect its Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson from among the members for a one-year term;

12. Meetings of the Subcommittee will be held as often as necessary but at least twice a year;

13. Date, venue and agenda of the next meeting of the Subcommittee will be decided under agenda item "Other matters" by the Subcommittee.

14. The reports on the Subcommittee will be submitted to RICAP.

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