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orewordThe Regional Human DevelopmentReport on “HIV/AIDS and HumanDevelopment in South Asia 2003” is thefirst report prepared under the aegis ofUNDP’s Asia Pacific Regional Initiativeon Human Development Reports(HDRC) and the Regional Programmeon HIV and Development (REACHBeyond Borders).This Report builds upon an extensivecorpus of research on humandevelopment in South Asia, pioneeredby the late Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq andstrengthened by successive national andsub-national HDRs. The challenge of HIVin South Asia has been examined inseveral documents prepared by UNorganizations, national Governments,research institutions, NGOs, activistsworking with HIV programmes andpositive people’s networks.It is heartening that this complex anddifficult issue is being addressed by a largenumber of people who recognise thepressing importance of fighting thisepidemic before it reaches catastrophicproportions. We do not have the luxuryof waiting for a crisis to be thrust uponus before we devise solutions for it.The Report argues that just as HIV canreverse the gains of human developmentin the region, largely through thevector of life expectancy, morbidityand prejudice, the lack of humandevelopment can also trump the fightagainst HIV. This Report is the first attemptto examine the dynamics of HIV andhuman development through a commonlens, and suggests possible arenas foraction that may lie outside a strictlyepidemiological approach. It is also truethat a classic public health response thatfocuses upon “disease control”,important as that is, may not be adequategiven the fact that there is thus far novaccine against HIV and the health careinfrastructure in the region is in need ofever greater reform and rejuvenation.The analysis in the Report indicates thatthe two-way relationship between illhealthand poverty holds particularly truein South Asia. In this context, humandevelopment concerns, particularlythose of social security, livelihood andhuman dignity are required to bemainstreamed into efforts to combatthe epidemic. As a corollary, it wouldbe essential to include HIV concernsinto policies and programmes forhuman development. A comprehensiveresponse cannot be a mere catch-word orslogan, it needs to become a living reality —on this hinges the success of the struggleagainst human deprivation and theepidemic in South Asia.Hafiz PashaUN Assistant Secretary GeneralUNDP Assistant AdministratorDirector, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacificiii