GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMME SPECIALIST YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN FAST TRACKING THE END OF AIDS – CHALLENGES, LEADERSHIP, RECOGNIZING THE ROLES OF YOUTH BY: ANITA AKUMIAH GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMME SPECIALIST Youth Involvement and its meaning

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION The situation of Youth and HIV Commitments to end AIDS among youth Challenges to youth involvement in HIV Suggested approaches for involving youth in HIV Way Forward If I, why not other youths? Slide 1

SITUATION OF YOUTH AND HIV Adolescents and young people represent a growing share of people living with HIV worldwide 610,000 young people between the ages of 15 to 24 were newly infected with HIV Low rates of HIV diagnosis and treatment initiation among adolescents and young people The burden could be compounded given the estimated 293 million “youth bulge” in Africa by 2025 Only one in five HIV-positive adolescent girls know their HIV status in SSA Slide 2 UNICEF Statistical Update 2017

SITUATION OF YOUTH AND HIV “AIDS-related deaths are rising among only one population group and that is young people. We will fail to achieve the end of AIDS if national policies and practices continue to restrict young people's access to HIV, sexual and reproductive health services. We must tackle the determinants of HIV risk and vulnerability and facilitate the realization of young people’s rights so that they can achieve their full potential in life.” Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director Slide 3

2014 WORLD AIDS DAY

KEY GLOBAL COMMITMENTS – HIV AND YOUTH The UN General Assembly Sustainable Development Goals Achieving the Demographic Dividend The African Union Roadmap for Harnessing the Demographic Dividend of Africa The All In Campaign to end Adolescent AIDS by UNAIDS and UNICEF Political Declaration at the 2016 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS Global Coalition on HIV and AIDS prevention Slide 4

BARRIERS TO YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN HIV Cultural issues stemming from primary socialization Restricted Leadership of youth in the AIDS response Perceptions arising from Intergenerational Gap Inadequate support and time by adults for mentoring youth Inadequate access to relevant HIV and SRH information especially adolescent girls, persons with disabilities and key populations Slide 6

PRAGMATIC APPROACHES ON YOUTH INVOLVEMENT Re-orientation of youth and adult perceptions for partnership formation Youth actively engaging in high level decision making Investing in country specific research and M&E for youth and with youth Data disaggregation for youth and age sub-groups Youth participating in all stages of policy & program cycles Slide 8

PRAGMATIC APPROACHES ON YOUTH INVOLVEMENT Implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education for empowerment and gender equality Developing youth-specific IEC Materials; by youth and responding to gender, disability, key population needs Using social media widely to complement electronic and print media Investing in capacity building for youth - advocacy, counseling, technical, leadership skills. Creating in country workshops and on-line learning platforms Including youth in implementing Task Sharing Policy Slide 9

IN SUMMARY Reviewing policies and laws Developing and evaluating new programmatic and policy innovations Implementing evidence-based youth programs Targeting the most at risk populations Slide 10

Maria del Carmen Martinez “The more we increase the active participation and partnership with young people, the better we serve them. … And the more comprehensively we work with them as service partners, the more we increase our public value to the entire community.” Maria del Carmen Martinez “We all benefit by having young people exposed to the ‘way things are done’ in a democratic society. Isn’t it time… to ‘tap the power of youth?’” Hans Bernard Slide 8

IF I, WHY NOT OTHER YOUTH? Anita Akumiah “As a youth that was actively involved in the policy and programme cycles in relation to HIV in Ghana, I can say without doubt that I received knowledge and skills required to make responsible decisions that empowered me... This exposure in my early years as a young person spurred me on and generated my interest and passion for HIV and sexual reproductive health and rights issues. This explains in large measure my active involvement in several activities that sought to improve the HIV and sexual reproductive health and rights of all youth across the Continent; and which now pursue for gender equity and equality.” Anita Akumiah Slide 11

MEDAASE!!!! THANK YOU!!!! MERCI!!!! Slide 9