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4th day of conference calls for access to targeted programmes and political leadership that respond to the unique vulnerabilities and service needs of women and young people
XV International AIDS Conference Press Release. 14 July 2004.
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Women and youth could face an HIV/AIDS catastrophe if concerted attention to their needs is not stepped up now, according to community, scientific and political leaders participating in the XV International AIDS Conference. Women leaders and other experts further emphasised the critical need to address the social, political and economic status of women and young people, arguing that failing to do so will undermine the long term effectiveness of any efforts to fight the AIDS epidemic.
?“If we are to succeed in preventing new infections among women and young people, we must be willing to challenge the status quo and to pursue creative and, at times, controversial prevention programs that speak to the realities of their lives,?” said Dr. Joep Lange, President of the International AIDS Society and Conference Co-Chair.
Women?’s Lives At Risk
HIV prevention strategies currently available are failing to stem the tide of new HIV infections among women and girls in countries hardest hit by AIDS. Worldwide, women represent an increasing proportion of adults living with HIV/AIDS, up from 41% in 1997 to 48% at the end of 2003. 1 This trend is even more pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, where women account for close to 60% of people living with HIV; 13 women are infected to every 10 infected men on average, up from 12 to 10 in 2002. Women are facing infection which they often cannot prevent as they are unable to negotiate safer sex due to imbalances of power, the lack of female-controlled HIV prevention methods such as microbicides, inadequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and the lack of access to sexual health and educational services.
Poverty can also fuel HIV transmission as women engage in unsafe sex in exchange for money, housing, food or education.
Speakers urged concrete actions to address the social and economic factors that increase women?’s vulnerability to HIV infection ?– such as reducing violence, expanding access to education, protecting property and inheritance rights and ensuring equal access to HIV prevention and treatment.
Dr. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid of the United Nations Population Fund said, ?“To make prevention work, stopping violence against women and girls must be a priority. Reducing inequalities is essential to making prevention work.?”
This theme was echoed by Professor Dennis Altman, Professor of Politics at LaTrobe University, Australia, who argued that the recognition of political/civil and social/economic rights is essential if we are to respond successfully to HIV/AIDS. ?“In general, the more socially and economically marginalised a population, the greater the chance of infection,?” he said. Prof. Altman delivered the Jonathan Mann Memorial Lecture, in memory of scientist Jonathan Mann, credited with building the World Health Organization?’s AIDS program from scratch.
Access For Young People Is Vital
Young people are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. Of the estimated 14,000 new HIV infections that occur each day worldwide, about half are among young people aged 15-24 and 2,000 are among children under age 15.
Lack of access to HIV prevention information and health services, and the failure to promote educational messages in a manner that engages young people?’s interest were two specific obstacles identified by several speakers. Reflecting on the power of education itself, Ms. Mary Crewe, University of Pretoria in South Africa, said, ?“Powerful education does not merely tinker with what ?“is?” but rather gives the skills to use education to dream about, imagine and finally achieve what should and could be.?”
In many parts of the world, young people are educating themselves and their peers and demanding a leadership role in services and programs that serve them. In his plenary speech, Mr. Raoul Fransen of the Young Positives Foundation in the Netherlands called for the inclusion of youth in the fight against HIV/AIDS. ?“We are not asking for understanding; we want to participate,?” he said. ?“Involvement must not be restricted to conferences and meetings.?”
A second youth leader, Ricky Tonbing from the Delhi Network of Positive People in India, added, ?“We need to invest all the resources, we need to invest everything we can for young people, because young people are the future.?”
For the first time in the history of the International AIDS Conference, young people played an active role organising various sessions and activities related to the Conference. Lively discussion and debate on the issues of the day and the problems of youth infected and affected by HIV was heard in the youth lounge of the Global Village. Young peoples?’ voices were also heard in numerous sessions. The youth program was planned by and for young people who are determined to find their own solutions, and to foster the exchange of ideas and experiences with other young people around the world. |
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