The Asia Pacific is a region of considerable cultural, religious, economic and political diversity. While diversity thrives in the Asia Pacific region, the nations that comprise it are united by a range of challenging social and economic issues, which have the potential to intensify the AIDS epidemic.

Ultimately HIV/AIDS is a matter of human, communal and national survival. Responding to it requires the mobilisation of diverse community groups and the creation of mutual respect between those infected and affected on the one hand and governments and international organisations on the other.

The first meeting of what was to become known as the International Congress on AIDS in the Asia Pacific was convened in Canberra, Australia in 1990. The primary sponsors of ICAAP are the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific and UNAIDS. Previous ICAAP's have been held in Delhi, Chang Mai, Manila and Kuala Lumpur. The Congresses have grown beyond their largely academic and biomedical beginnings to become a major regional and international gathering of all involved in HIV/AIDS work.

The Sixth ICAAP in Melbourne 2001 was part of the larger regional response to the epidemic that involves committed and enduring institutions, networks and community groups united in the fight against HIV/AIDS but separated by focus and approach. The Congress hosted the first Regional Forum of HIV positive people convened in conjunction with PLWHA, NAPWA and APN+. It also included the largest contingent of senior government ministers from the region at a HIV/AIDS conference and gained their commitment to build alliances to fight the epidemic.