In the Asia-Pacific region, sex is the most common route of HIV transmission. Yet, despite an increased understanding of, and programmatic focus on sexual risk, the majority of cases of HIV transmission in the region continue to take place through unprotected sexual intercourse. This fact alone tells us that messages about safer sex are, on the whole, failing in Asia and the Pacific.

In addressing this issue, this special issue of Intersections on HIV in Asia Pacific, will attempt to move beyond the more common empirical approaches to sexuality in HIV research, more often concerned with calculating the frequency of sexual acts and risk, condom use and sexual partners, rather than trying to understand the cultural and subjective meanings that shape sexual practice, which may provide critically important information about sexual risk and HIV transmission.

The issue will look at local constructions of sexualities in the Asia-Pacific region, which are often marginalised in HIV programming, in order to inform HIV research and that prevention efforts might be more effective. Papers focusing on the social and political contexts in which sexuality is subject to control, for example through gendered forms of power and inequality, gender violence, sexual violence, race and poverty, are particularly welcome, especially those focusing on women’s sexuality.