Youth Satellite Meeting Sunday, May 13 th The International Youth Network for Harm Reduction

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Policy Legal and ethical issues with age restrictions (reaching under 18 year olds), parental consent to access services & confidentiality Criminalization (of sex workers, IDUs, etc) Human Rights, stigma, discrimination Clean needles

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Relevance Services & communication tailored to age group/ “age appropriate” Cultural sensitivity Urban vs. rural (access to services) Up-to-date and responsive (inclusive of new drugs young people use and how; i.e. synthetics, ketamines, etc.) Include youth in design, implementation, M&E

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Choice Types of information and services available to youth- who decides content? Different models for different needs/ communities Role of primary prevention in harm reduction in the continuum of care for young people

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Access What services are available and cost Language, cultural sensitivity Funding and sustainability of services Access to internet Outreach Identifying needs of target groups Disability, age of consent, ethics Location and hours of services Drop-ins for young people, SWs, MSM, IDUs

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Research and Evidence Need for more youth indicators, age disaggregated data, evidence on efficacy of interventions that succeed for youth Need for clearinghouse of information and resources Best practice models, global assessment

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Communication and Networking Youth-friendly communication Visually appealing Multimedia including new technologies that young people use Collaboration with allies, parents, families & communities

Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Training Project management, proposal and report writing, M&E, fundraising, advocacy, youth-led research “Globally specific” standardized training materials that can be adapted to local needs Local and online trainings Peer-to-peer training (Peer= same age, SW, IDU, MSM, etc; skills building; media training)

Challenges Including Hepatitis C services Confidentiality and referrals for youth under age 18 High cost of treatment and/or health insurance (compared to youth incomes) Denial, conservatism/ religion, politicization of issues Resource mobilization for youth-led or youth- serving interventions

Challenges Lack of youth participation & recognition that youth have special needs Availability of syringes & services Vulnerability of out-of-school youth and children Terminology (“harm reduction” and “needle exchange”) Criminalization of drug use and sex work drives practice underground

Underlying Values of Network Honest, evidence-based education Trust Youth-friendly & non-judgmental Realistic Based on human rights framework Health promotion

The International Youth Network for Harm Reduction is supported by: International Harm Reduction Association UNICEF Canadian Youth Network for Harm Reduction Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS