PTAP is a global 5-year community-based advocacy and networking project implemented in 10 countries. Launched by ICASO in 2005, PTAP involves four of its regional secretariats in Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America and Caribbean. PTAP is collectively funded by CIDA, the Gates Foundation, Danida and GlaxoSmith Kline.

In Asia Pacific, PTAP is implemented by APCASO in China (Yunnan) and India (Tamil Nadu).  Funds designated for PTAP activities in Asia Pacific are from the Gates Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline.

By 2009, its fifth and final year, country partners have been able to build on lessons learned to more effectively bring about policy and programme shift at state/province levels towards increased access to prevention. The project has strengthened coalition with civil society organisations and other stakeholders, enabling community groups to dialogue with policy makers to advocate for change and reduction in stigma and discrimination.

Media and legal advocacy are also significant PTAP innovations in bringing about some level of awareness and change in both countries.

PTAP China 

In China, IDUs account for over 40% of HIV infections and Yunnan province bears a large share of this. Our national partner is the Yunnan Daytop Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (Daytop), one of the earliest NGOs in the country to work on harm reduction for injecting drug users (IDUs).

PTAP made significant inroads in its collaboration with the provincial government. Following a successful pilot project in the Guan Du detoxification centre, full VCT and prevention services are to be available at all detoxification centres in 2009. Quality of services and GO-NGO collaboration have been strengthened through PTAP-initiated capacity building, training and learning.

The use of a radio programme in Yunnan to promote the principle of GIPA and to reduce stigma and discrimination is one innovation PTAP is proud of.  The radio programme has won several awards; the National Radio of China is considering replicating it to a national programme.

Legal advocacy is another accomplishment with lasting impact. PTAP is involved with training legal advocates and developing a corps of lawyers to take on cases to help PLHIV protect their rights. In 2008, one of these lawyers accepted a case to help defend a PLHIV man against discrimination by a national insurance company. This involved discriminatory clauses (against PLHIV) present in a Personal Accident policy. Through strategic advocacy and working with the media, this case has attracted national attention. In July 2009, the Insurance Association of China issued a statement requiring that insurance companies include PLHIV and passive drug takers in their insurance contracts. A final verdict on the case brought by the PLHIV plaintiff (Mr Li) is expected in December 2009.

PTAP India

PTAP partner, Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+), is the largest PLHIV network in Asia. It has been promoting sexual and reproductive rights of PLHIV through advocacy for incorporation of positive prevention in national and state HIV/AIDS policies.

In 2008, PTAP was active in advocating for civil society consultations for HIV/AIDS policy or programme. It has built the capacity of civil society organisations to improve knowledge of and understand policy documents and to strengthen analytical and review skills.

Like in China, legal advocacy is a strong component of PTAP India. INP+ has been collaborating with the Indian Lawyers Collective on advocacy to pass an HIV/AIDS Bill in the Indian Parliament. Through this, it has engaged diverse marginalised, vulnerable communities, to get their voices heard.