But the window of opportunity for preventing a heightened epidemic is getting progressively smaller. However, some experts say that official counts of AIDS cases vastly underreport instances of the disease. In Uzbekistan, IDU was linked to 71 percent of new HIV cases. Awareness and prevention programs, if implemented quickly, could significantly reduce the chances of an AIDS epidemic in the region, experts say. But the implementation of effective awareness and prevention programs is hampered by a severe lack of government resources.
International organizations provide a large share of funding for existing programs.
Given the constraints, participants at the conference recognized that greater efficiency in the allocation of resources needed to be achieved. As a result, homosexuality is no longer a criminal offense in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, prohibitions on drug use have been eased, while trafficking and dealing drugs draw stiff penalties. Despite the introduction of more liberal legislation, the practices of law enforcement and health authorities remain repressive and controlling. The Central Eurasia Project aims, through its website, meetings, papers, and grants, to foster a more informed debate about the social, political and economic developments of the Caucasus and Central Asia.