AIDS in JAPAN -Basic Information and Coomunity Activities in Japan

The Activities and Prospects of the AIDS Service Organizations: Basic Information

This article does not necessary reflect all of the views in the communities

In Japan, it was seldom seen until the case of HIV/AIDS that the citizens carry out organized activities against a single disease. There were patient advocacy groups and family meetings concerning certain diseases, but it was HIV/AIDS which inspired the new social movement of ordinary citizens taking part in care and sensitization activities across the country.

1. Beginning of the AIDS Service Organization age

In the late 1980's, HIV/AIDS prevention and enlightenment activities started from the gay community and leukaemia patients provided information and care for their fellow infected patients, leading to the foundation of a number of NGOs.

In 1991, AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibition road showing the quilts provided by Name's Project (USA) was set up and run, moving around nine cities, and telephone consulting services on HIV/AIDS started in various locations, mainly by citizens who participated in the quilt exhibition. As described above, it was the general public rather than the government that took action and developed organized activities in the field of care and enlightenment activities concerning HIV/AIDS.

2. Fight against discrimination and stigma on HIV/AIDS

As for discrimination and stigma, since it was said in Japan that the first reported HIV positive person was a sex worker (with totally no evidence), the understanding that 'AIDS is a STI resulting from prostitution' and that 'for those who got infected, it is a well-earned punishment' prevailed in the society from the beginning. This understanding still exists in the society and it is one of the big tasks for the HIV/AIDS service organizations to get rid of this distorted view. Meanwhile, the patients infected by the tainted blood products from the United States took a legal action against the government in 1989. In the process, since the media gave it a prominent coverage nationwide, awareness was brought to the Japanese society that it was a social problem. In 1996 the case came to a settlement and medical care and welfare systems were prepared for the infected people.

Internationally, the international HIV/AIDS conference which was held in Yokohama in 1994 was a big turning point. In this conference, the civic activities were officially appreciated, and in Japan, it was the first time for people living with HIV/AIDS participating in the panel meeting of experts. In addition, in the conference, the community division was set up, and the Japanese NGOs became the representative to promote the participation of overseas AIDS Service Organizations. This conference was widely reported in the media as the first international conference in Asia, and it became a trigger for the rise of social interest towards HIV/AIDS.

3. Towards the apathetic public

In the late 1990's, however, the social interest became lower and the assistance towards private AIDS Service Organizations started to decline. The administration budget for care, prevention and awareness-raising activities was also cut down, and private assistance came to be mainly dependent on the support in activity costs by foreign capital backed companies with very little assistance from the domestic companies.

With the conservative swing of politics, the government as well became passive towards sex and HIV/AIDS education. Nevertheless, the number of patients is definitely increasing and the role of private AIDS Service Organizations is extremely important. Most especially, for the provision of information and service for the minorities under socially vulnerable situations, it is more effective for private AIDS Service Organizations rather than the government to take initiative in carrying out the activities, utilizing their experience and network.

Under these circumstances, organized cooperation with other agencies will be required for private AIDS Service Organizations to further expand and enhance their activities. Cooperation between private organizations, medical organizations and local governments is already in place, and there is a movement of private institutions chairing The Japanese Society for AIDS Research. Some of the challenges ahead would be the enhanced cooperation with agencies engaged in the assistance of foreigners, cooperation with gay groups, and the activation of the function of AIDS and Society, the umbrella organization for AIDS Service Organizations.

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