HIV in the Pacific region cannot be managed in isolation and, instead, should be considered along with other issues of development in that part of the world, according to a report by the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific and reported by UNAIDS.  

The report states that a “one size fits all” approach will not be successful in the Pacific region. It also states that laws criminalizing sex workers and HIV transmission are obstacles in these nations.  

“We must uphold the rights of all people living with HIV,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “In particular, countries in the region must repeal laws that fuel stigma and discrimination against men who have sex with men, sex workers and injection users.”  

According to the article, the Pacific region accounts for only 0.14 percent of the world population—and a similarly small percentage of the AIDS epidemic. However, even a small number of HIV cases in this region can result in high incidence and prevalence rates.