[health-vn] HIV prevention among most-at-risk young people: How to get the message across

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: RE: [AIDS-Beyond-Borders] HIV prevention among most-at-risk young 
people: How to get the message across
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 09:15:20 +0100
From: Robert Denny <rob.denny at telefonica.net>
Reply-To: aids-beyond-borders at googlegroups.com
To: <aids-beyond-borders at googlegroups.com>



Rob Denny

t:  +34 933005705
m:  +34 664089772
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-----Original Message-----
From: aids-beyond-borders at googlegroups.com
[mailto:aids-beyond-borders at googlegroups.com]On Behalf Of Dr. Avnish
Jolly
Sent: Monday, 28 December 2009 7:06 PM
To: AIDS Beyond Borders
Subject: [AIDS-Beyond-Borders] HIV prevention among most-at-risk young
people: How to get the message across


HIV prevention among most-at-risk young people: How to get the message
across
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/20
09/20091228_UNESCO.asp

28 December 2009

It is critical that young people most-at-risk of HIV infection are
better informed and equipped with skills to protect themselves. This
was a key argument emerging from an international symposium convened
to address the education sector’s response to the challenge of HIV
among this key population.

Held in Berlin in early December, the meeting of the UNAIDS Inter-
agency Task Team (IATT) on Education was hosted by German Technical
Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It brought together some
70 experts from around the world to discuss concrete ways forward to
reach, with prevention messages, the most vulnerable young people
already engaging in high-risk behaviour, such as multiple
partnerships, inter-generational sex, unprotected male-to-male sex,
sex work or injecting drug use.

Young people in general are especially vulnerable to the virus.
According to the UNAIDS 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update, those aged 15-24
account for 40% of all new infections. This is exacerbated by the fact
that only 40% of young people in the same age group have accurate
knowledge about HIV and transmission. Helping youth avoid infection is
seen as crucial for social and economic development, and providing
them with AIDS-related knowledge and skills is a central concern of
the UNAIDS IATT on Education.

Reaching those who have never been to school or who have dropped out
early and left the formal education sector represents a particular
challenge and the symposium examined a range of possible approaches to
reach vulnerable adolescents and youth both in and out of school,
looking at specifically targeted responses.

Ishita Chaudhry from the YP Foundation in India noted that while
sexuality was a fundamental component of being human there was a
failure to get basic information to young people to help protect them
from HIV infection. “Why is sexuality so problematic?” she asked.
According to Dr Robert Carr, the Associate Director of the
International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO) and
keynote speaker, young people are too often “left to fend for
themselves”, receiving inadequate preparation for their sexual and
reproductive lives.

Fear, stigma and discrimination, laws and policies were identified as
barriers to meeting the needs of those most vulnerable and ensuring
their involvement in developing and implementing interventions.
According to Els Klinkert, Senior Policy Adviser at UNAIDS, the “most-
at-risk young people in low and concentrated epidemics are largely
invisible”. This notion of invisibility was also invoked by Dr. Carr
referring to gay and bisexual youth in the Caribbean. “Hidden
behaviours” and limited frank discussions about these behaviours were
seen to be problematic.

Symposium participants were able to review existing data on education
sector approaches to HIV prevention; exchange ideas and experiences;
and develop recommendations for outreach strategies that target young
people in inclusive and gender-sensitive ways.
The sector was seen to play a role in multiple aspects of the response
for most-at-risk young people. It was noted, firstly, that schools
often extend farther into many communities than most public services –
and have the potential to reach children and young people before they
engage in most-at-risk behaviours. Secondly, good quality education
that focuses on empowerment within safe and protective environments
has a sustained impact on reducing vulnerability and behaviours that
create, increase or perpetuate risk. Thirdly, comprehensive sexuality
education – which addresses sexual and reproductive health, human
rights, HIV prevention, gender, drugs and other aspects – was seen to
equip learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to make
informed decisions.

There was a shared understanding that young people should be at the
heart of HIV programming, not just as passive recipients of
information and services but as involved actors and that this is
critical when developing and implementing HIV interventions. The
statement issued by youth representatives at the meeting reinforced
this point: “We demand the meaningful involvement of diverse youth
communities, especially young people living with HIV as they are the
key role models and leaders in the movement…We young people are here
living, working, and ready to take responsibility along with your
support and mentorship. We are not future leaders, we are leaders of
today.”

Empowering young people to protect themselves from HIV is one of the
nine priority focus areas for UNAIDS and its Cosponsors under the
Joint action for results: UNAIDS outcome framework 2009-2011.
Formed in 2002, the IATT on Education is convened by UNESCO and brings
together UNAIDS Cosponsors, bilateral agencies, private donors and
civil society partners with the purpose of accelerating and improving
a coordinated and harmonised education sector response to HIV.

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