Policy Brief: Self-Stigma among Young Men who have Sex with Men and Young Transgender Women and the Linkages with HIV in Asia

In the Asia region, an increasing number of HIV infections occur among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people. Unless effective HIV prevention strategies are implemented, the Commission on AIDS in Asia's regional projections predict that about half (46%) of all new HIV infections in Asia will soon be among MSM, an increase of 13% from 2008. While inadequate HIV data exists on transgender women due to their limited inclusion in national HIV surveillance systems, studies that do exist show transgender women are at disproportionate risk for HIV infection.

Young MSM and transgender people in Asia Pacific are at high risk for HIV. Like their older peers who are MSM and/or transgender, these young people face additional barriers to services due to the criminalization of male-to-male sex in 19 out of 38 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and the intense stigma experienced from family, employers, service-providers and the state (among others).