Chapter 3- Report of the Research and Policy Development Group 5. RIGHT TO HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS The Commission since its inception has consistently engaged with issues affecting the right to health in Malaysia. This year, the Commission agreed to co-publish a report entitled ‘Review and Consultation on the Policy and Legal Environments Related to HIV Services in Malaysia’ by the United Nations HIV and AIDS Theme Group (UNAIDS) in Malaysia. The main objective of the report is to identify the current policy and legal environments in Malaysia which safeguard the universal human rights of the key affected populations, particularly with regard to HIV prevention, care and treatment. In view of the importance of awareness of this issue among the most vulnerable groups and people who live in remote areas, the Commission organised three RTDs on the Right to Health and HIV/AIDS in Kuching, Sarawak; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur on 19, 20 and 26 November respectively with the following objectives: i. To understand and appreciate Government related laws and policies on HIV/AIDS and, further, to obtain an overview on the dissemination of information regarding laws and policies on HIV/AIDS among marginalised groups in rural and remote areas; ii. To identify gaps and challenges in implementing related legislation, administrative directives and procedures of HIV/AIDS prevention and control; and iii. To formulate recommendations and practical ways of support and advocate the inclusion of a human rights component in the Government’s plan to prevent and reduce the risk and spread of HIV infection. Representative of Sabah AIDS Concern Society giving his comment during the RTD on the Right to Health and HIV/AIDS in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Various pertinent issues and suggestions were raised by the participants, summarised as follows: i. 74 Awareness of HIV/AIDS among people in remote areas in Sarawak and Sabah is relatively very low. From the discussions, it was also apparent that awareness of some of the issues relating to HIV/AIDS, particularly the mode of transmissions, was also very low.