Youth we can!

Skrevet av: Anneli Rønes, 13.10.11

Tuesday October 25, Sex og Politikk, IHSG and FOKUS will arrange a debate focusing on young people and HIV/AIDS. The title of the debate is:
Youth we can! How can we engage young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS?

The debate will take place at Cafeteatret, Grønland, October 25, 18:00-20:30.

Panelists:

• Zandile Mqwathi National Focal Point of South Africa, Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA)
• Anette Remme President, SAIH (Norwegian Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund)
• Sheri Lee Bastien Researcher, University of Oslo
• Anette Trettebergstuen Member of Parliament, Labour Party

Moderator: Usman Choudri, leader of East Meets West, IHSG's youth group

The performance group Moving thoughts will inspire through words - song - movement.

Welcome!





Abstract:
Each day more than 6,800 people contract HIV and more than 5,700 die from AIDS related illnesses - primarily due to inadequate access to HIV prevention and treatment services. 40% of all new HIV infections occur among young people 15-24 years old. Women make up nearly 52% of the global total of people living with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, 60% of people living with HIV are women and girls, according to UNAIDS.

At the UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS this summer, the Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, stressed the importance of youth participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We want to bring the High-Level Meeting back to Norway and explore what such
conferences mean for the work to fight HIV/AIDS, especially with a focus on youth and young women. Is the involvement of youth just a slogan, or is it actually followed up? How are youth involved? What measures are put into place in order to reach young people?

In arranging this debate, we wish to focus on youth both as an important group needed to be involved in decision making processes, but also as a vulnerable group in need for specific measures - and whose sexuality often is very controversial in several countries. The gender dimension of HIV/AIDS is important - if we are to truly change the course of the epidemic, investing in girls' and women's empowerment is essential. We also want to learn how young people in the South work against HIV/AIDS, and gather knowledge from their work.