A Youth Perspective on HIV/AIDS

I. Why youth?

Youth Are Affected

• over 50% of people infected worldwide are under 25 years of age

• over 80% of people infected in Eastern & Southern Europe and Central Asia are below 30 years of age.

Youth Are Playing a Role

• Dublin (Feb 2004)– Youth were the focal point of the conference

• Bangkok (July 2004) – Twofold increase of youth participants over last

conference.

A variety of youth organizations involved– RC, scouts, students, YMCA, Christian,

PLWHA youth, UN youth groups…

Youth Are Diverse

Advantages of Youth Approaches

• Peer Understanding- you know best what your age group

needs and responds to

• Peer Education- People are more likely to trust their peers

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II. What Can Youth Do?

Provide relevant information

a) on prevention - peer education

b) battle stigma and discrimination - youth are future adults

Represent youth interests

a) Play a role in decision making that effects them

b) ensure access to information, condoms

- this is a right!

Make AIDS an everyday topic

a) the truth about aids...

b) candlelight marches

Quotes

“Youth are not just a target group that has needs - they are the best resource available to address the problem”

“Young people are a key resource to finding solutions that will work”

Quotes

Thank you.