UNAIDS says laws in Asia against same-sex relations and that criminalize drug addicts and sex workers undermine prevention and treatment programs, putting more people at risk of infection. The U.N. body says 19 countries still outlaw same-sex relations and 16 restrict travel for people infected with HIV.

Australian Ambassador for HIV Murray Proctor says greater financial commitments are needed for HIV-AIDS programs. "Long-term financing for the international HIV response is a major concern. In 2009 funding for HIV actually fell globally for the first time since 2002," Proctor said.

Last year countries pledged $11.7 billion for the global fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Proctor called it a major increase, but said it still fell short of funding hopes.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to an estimated five million HIV-infected people, the second highest number in the world, after Sub-Saharan Africa.