For the past four to six years, young people have been crying in the wilderness for their voices to be heard as a contributing force to preventing the further spread of HIV and to providing the treatment, support, and care needed for persons living with, and affected by, HIV and AIDS. Well, at AIDS 2008, the voice is even more resounding and stands on four central pillars: Rights! Respect! Responsibility! Resources! Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
It is not by
chance that children and young people in India and countries in Asia,
Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and other regions of the world, are being
denied comprehensive, evidence-based sexuality education. It is not
by chance that young people who use drugs, engage in diverse sexual
activities, or simply those who are homeless or poor are at greater
risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. It is not by chance that almost 50 percent
of all new HIV infections are among young people. Instead, it is by
choice that governments, schools, parents, teachers, and educators CHOOSE
to withhold vital information young people need to lead informed lives
when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health and HIV and AIDS.
Similarly, young people CHOOSE how they want to live their lives. Although
society may not necessarily agree with CHOICES we make as young people,
we have a right to choose. We also accept that access to a wide range
of sexual health information is our right that ought to be respected.
Despite the social injustices that plague our generation, we as young people have been clamoring for our voices to be heard and for our requests to be put into action by those who yield so much power and authority. We believe that this power and authority makes up the 25,000 plus people attending the conference and more. While the youth voice is just over a thousand strong, we have not left the comfort of our homes to come to Mexico and idle, but instead to demand change and to partner with the many others who are in this fight as well. Our asks are simply asks--yet stakeholders refuse to act RESPONSIBLY!
How can they act responsibly? They can put their money and action where their mouths are and give full and undivided support to the forums, sessions, and activities organized by and for young people. It is not acceptable for a small portion of journalists to attend press conferences organized by the Mexico YouthForce or for only a few high-ranking officials to share in the youth leadership forum held on the third day of the conference.
In addition, what about the Youth Pavilion and the Youth-Adults Commitments Desk? How many people have taken time out of their busy schedules to visit the Youth Pavilion and make commitments as to how they will mainstream youth participation in the fight against HIV and AIDs? Will we go through another large conference and two more years without meaningful ACTION that supports young people's ability to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS and to lead positive lives for those of us who are already living positively?
Let's stop playing politics with HIV and AIDS and young people. Recognize our RIGHTS, RESPECT those rights, and take RESPONSIBILITY by providing the RESOURCES and opportunities for young people to lead change in their own communities. ]]>Andrew Francis, member of the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth (AFY), blogs for us from the Women Deliver conference in London as part of a series of youth voices provided by AFY. Check back for more youth coverage of the conference!
A new day now dawns in world history as statesmen, stateswomen, young people, social activists and others gather under one roof at the Women Deliver Conference here in London to address issues affecting the blessed ones who brought us into this world and gave us our first taste at anything nutritional--we're talking about women.
We're talking about safe pregnancy, child birth, maternal death and morbidity, sexual reproductive health and rights, including access to information and services, and family planning; HIV and AIDS; education; economic empowerment and gender equality. However, we cannot address these issues without considering youth. Young people are at the cusp of their reproductive lives and are the parents and teachers of future generations. As such, the world is realizing more and more that today's young women and men are by far the greatest asset we have towards re-shaping the universe. Young people are probably our greatest asset not only for future investment but also for this very moment--the present.
Though some recognize that young people are tremendous assets--not liabilities--far too many decision makers continue to fail us by only offering lip service to our importance in nation-building as well as our right to know how to live the best life possible. As the Women Deliver conference takes place over the next three days we must pause, as world leaders, media personnel and young people, to consider the facts. What are these FACTS?
As young people, we are the tendons and cartilage of our communities, nations and the world. Unfortunately, many of us are going to waste; many of us are not being given the opportunity to be that binding medium that crosses color, class or creed. The reality is young people are having sex, young women are having complications, young people are being led in the dark, young people are not being given the chance to make their own informed choices about their own lives.
We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the facts and realities of life. We cannot and should not fool ourselves that teaching our children that the cow jumps over the moon is enough. Teaching them about the bees, the trees and the fishes in the deep blue sea isn't enough either. Instead, we must urgently deliver to young people, girls in particular, by creating educational programs that leave no stone unturned. We must teach and embrace comprehensive sex education. We must offer medically accurate and youth-friendly services that will address the sexual and reproductive health of our young women, men and girls. They have a right to know. It should not be a privilege to access services that will suit their specific needs but rather a right.
Respect that right by giving us the opportunity to express ourselves, access all the information we can possibly take and get contraception when we need it. Do it for us, do it for your son, daughter, cousins, nephews, nieces. Do it for the world. It's time to deliver youth-friendly family planning and reproductive health policies, programs, and services to young women and young men.
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