IATT Annual Meeting Adolescent and Young People participation In the fight against HIV/AIDS in...
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Transcript of IATT Annual Meeting Adolescent and Young People participation In the fight against HIV/AIDS in...
IATT Annual Meeting
Adolescent and Young People participation In the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa
Presented by: Ms. Aidah Nakanjako
AfriYAN
April 16, 2009 Geneva
Background
AfriYAN Is African Youth and Adolescent Network on
population and Development with a focus on sexual reproductive health.
AfriYAN serves to promote and advance greater youth participation in Africa’s development through strengthening leadership and advocacy skills and promoting effective involvement in policy, programming and implementation through national and sub regional structures.
AfriYAN has current membership of 43 countries with presence in four subregions : Central Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, and Southern Africa.
Cont…
Have Secretariat in Ouagadougou; Burkina Faso With leadership of 8 executive committee
members from 4 sub-regions Uganda and Ethiopia for East Africa Zambia (chair) and Mozambique for Southern Africa Nigeria and Ivory Cost for West Africa Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville for Central Africa
AfriYAN was founded in 2005, to coordinate and voice young people issues into national, sub-regional and regional inter-governmental dialogues, policies and programming.
Cont…
Partnerships UNFPA is the key partner of AfriYAN activities
Country networks are also funded by local partners
Work in partnership with other young people coalitions at all levels i.e. GYCA, Red Cross
AfriYAN appreciates its inclusion on the IATT as an expanded representation effort.
NB: More coordinated support is needed from development partners for both financial and technical support
HIV and Young people
2008 UNAIDS report indicates that Young people aged 15–24 account for 45% of all new HIV infections, BUT many young people still lack accurate and complete information on how to avoid exposure to HIV
Across the labour force generally, AIDS is significantly affecting the workforce (Young people). By 2020, the workforce in 15 countries analyzed by the International Labour Organization will be 24 million people fewer because of AIDS. (The global impact of HIV/AIDS; UNAIDS 2001)
Cont…
The global epidemic cannot (will not) be reversed without sustained success in reducing new HIV infections among young people and nearly half the world’s population is under 25 years (UNFPA, 2006)
Important to note: Where young people are well informed of HIV risks and prevention strategies, they are changing their behavior in ways that reduce their vulnerability.
AfriYAN Achievements
Strengthening or creation of national youth Networks and coordination mechanisms
Leadership and capacity building of Youth Leaders Advocacy Contributed to the development of the Africa
Youth Charter and subsequent county ratification Contributed to Africa’s position on UNGASS Input to the development of ADF V consensus
statement and ADF VI youth statement Supports African youth participation in national
and international fora (i.e.. IAC, ICASA, UNGASS, African Union Summits, ADF)
Key Challenges
Young people are not systematically/sufficiently involved in the development process of key national documents, policies and strategies that directly affect them
Inadequate/ Lack of youth HIV empowerment packages
some HIV prevention messages are not youth friendly
inadequate/ lack of HIV prevention strategies focusing on sexual partnerships
inadequate resources for youth services and coordination work
Recommendations
Need to review existing strategies/ policies especially those that directly affect young people to forge way forward
Need more youth involvement and participation in planning, programming and implementation of programs I.e. youth for youth programs use of youth experts, etc
HIV programs should be guided towards comprehensive youth empowerment and development messages
Need for new prevention technologies to complement existing strategies i.e. ABC
Conti…
Design attractive HIV messages for young people
A renewed emphasis on HIV prevention is critically needed
More resources should be committed to HIV Prevention
More resources needed to improve coordination of the response among young people
For a broader African Young people coverage, AfriYAN is
the route…
Thank you