AuthorBy Andrés Gaeta. Tijuana, Mexico
During the first week of October, young people from all latitudes of Mexico met to discuss the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals and the follow-up to their implementation using research as the main tool. The development of research from a youth perspective is a paradigm shift that questions knowledge and places youth at the centre, with the possibility of measuring and sharing the problems we experience on a daily basis; research available to young people. To research a rigorous methodology is needed; however, there are many ways to carry out studies from the community, far from just studying the community. From this idea, we had the opportunity to rethink how access to information and technologies can help us to overcome economic and geographical barriers. We built a space from where we carried out pragmatic research approaches, with direct objectives towards the modification or implementation of public policies, from the measurement of the application of protocols or health programs. One of the key elements for the integration of Mexican youth perspectives is the involvement of social activists from different regions of the country. ACT! 2030 Mexico achieved the above when including young people who live in the northern region of the country, who live dynamically attached to the neighbouring country, with a construction of citizenship far from centralist logics. As well as involving young people from the southern region, where the challenges of multidimensional poverty and the recognition of indigenous peoples are greater. However, despite the contextual differences we all share violence based on gender, discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as ethnicity and the deficiencies on the health systems to reduce the vulnerabilities of youth in each region of the country. Towards the closure of the activities the sense of network was strengthened, where not only an affirmation of the triumphs of social activism from a latitude different from ours was achieved, but also a kind of support to the knowledge that the difficulties are shared, with a genuine recognition of the experiences and knowledge of the young people.  Every day I condemn myself for not being able to help her .Tragedy fell and as she was sleeping on the floor -the man that her mother brought home that evening got off the bed and raped her. She was drunk and in the spin of time her daughter became prey to some night predator. I see the vision, the images so close I weep at times. The voice of this stranger haunts me and within the background I hear her groans. It is a shame that even after hearing about such an incident I remained quite because I lacked vivid evidence. At least I could have dug information in order to save a soul. In Africa, across Europe and within Asia women and girls are victims to human trafficking, femicide and intimate partner violence. Gender based violence is a global reality. It is a collective responsibility to stop child abuse; date rape and child marriage. Sexual assault is still on the peak because of people like me -individuals that mind their own business and are self-centered. It was until a spirit of advocacy birthed inside me and I became an activist to a movement, ‘Leave No One Behind: End violence against Women and Girls.’ Being part of a team that seeks to defend women and girls, I observed how as women we have been raised to be conservative and never assertive even with issues that affect our well-being. In conversations about Sexual Reproductive Health most women discarded need to negotiate for safer sex. Patriarchy has taught women to take orders never question the actions of men, whether they are being beaten or attacked verbally. By reflecting on shared experiences women and girls vowed to be each other‘s watch dog through a sisters’ keeper oath. We took advantage of social gatherings to raise awareness on issues that affect women and girls. This was through music festivals and church congregations. Reality is men are beginning to understand the dynamics of womanhood and are partnering to stop violence against women and girls. To be sure with continuous efforts and community partnership we will end Gender Based Violence. AuthorBy Amanda Makombe “We want Comprehensive Sexuality Education," young LGBTQ+ people in Asia and the Pacific have said. Youth Voices Count (YVC) coinciding with the opening of 9th Asia Pacific Conference of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Vietnam releases two videos featuring young LGBTQ+ people demanding comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). https://youtu.be/MlwrYSAT-mk https://youtu.be/MlwrYSAT-mk “Young LGBTQ+ are amongst the worst affected by the absence of CSE. They not only have to negotiate their own dilemmas about their own sexuality and gender identity but also have to face a society that vehemently despises their differences”, says Bella Vongvisitsin, Chair, Youth Voices Count. Young LGBTQ+ people around the world face numerous challenges including bullying, stigma, discrimination, physical and sexual abuses which leads to self-harming behaviors including suicide as a result of not having access to information and knowledge on gender, sexuality, gender expressions and sex characteristics and sexual and reproductive health. Bullying and harassments is also a result of lack of knowledge on these issues as young people are unaware of how to negotiate the concepts of gender, sexuality, gender expressions and sex characteristics with their peers. “Strategic and sustainable measure needs to be taken at the very local level to ensure that all young people have the right to access knowledge on SCE. It is about the right to highest attainable health, right to education and right to lead equal, equitable and fulfilling lives” says Niluka Perera, Regional Coordinator of Youth Voices Count. The videos developed in Sri Lanka and the Philippines features the plight of young people in general and young LGBTQ+ people in particular in the absence of CSE. The videos also feature decision makers calling the governments and policy makers to integrate age appropriate CSE to school curricula to ensure sustainable provision of CSE to young people. The videos are supported through the Youth PACT by HIV Young Leaders Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The videos are developed by young LGBTQ+ people ensuring the ownership of the advocacy.  Image taken from creative commons. Today the 25th of November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day also marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. This year the theme is ‘Leave no one behind’.
According to the UN Secretary General’s report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals violence against women is the most extreme form of discrimination. On the basis of data from 2005 to 2016 for 87 countries, 19 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years of age said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey. In the most extreme cases, such violence can lead to death. In 2012, almost half of all women who were victims of intentional homicide worldwide were killed by an intimate partner or family member, compared to 6 per cent of male victims. While other cases of extreme violence such as female genital mutilation/cutting have declined. This by 24 per cent since around 2000, the prevalence remains high in some of the 30 countries with representative data. In his message UN Secretary-General António Guterres said every woman and every girl has the right to a life free of violence. “Yet this rupture of human rights occurs in a variety of ways in every community, particularly affecting those who are most marginalized and vulnerable. Around the world, more than 1 in 3 women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lives; 750 million women were married before age 18, and more than 250 million have undergone Female Genital Mutilation,” he said. Sadly only just over half of women between the ages of 15 and 49 who are married or in a relationship make their own decisions about consensual sexual relations and use of contraceptives and health services. That statistic is based on available data from around 2012 for 45 countries, 43 of which are in developing regions. The UN posits that achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will require more vigorous efforts, including legal frameworks, to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination that often results from patriarchal attitudes and related social norms. According to Secretary Guterres it’s time for united action from all of us, so that women and girls around the world can live free from harassment, harmful practices, and all other forms of violence.  The PACT is inviting young people aged 16 to 30 to send any one of the following:
(a) An essay, opinion piece or news item on any of these themes:
(b) A video interview with a gender based violence or sexual and reproductive health champion in your community or video on anti-GBV activities (you can use your smartphone! 5 minutes maximum) (c) Pictures on how your community will be marking the 16 days of activism against gender based violence or any events related to sexual and reproductive health. (d) A picture of your local leaders and their two sentence message on the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. For more information and submissions email contactyouthpact@gmail.com Content should NOT have been published elsewhere. Selected written submissions can be paid UP TO US$50 while selected video submissions can get paid UP TO US$70. Deadline for submission of content and/or proposals is 30 November. Content received after this will NOT be considered.  Young people playing cards in Russia. Credit: Flickr/ Evgeniy Isaev Young people are at the center of HIV epidemics, and we cannot bend the curve of the epidemic without the prioritization and participation of young people as beneficiaries, partners and leaders in the HIV response. The Lancet Commission Report (2015) shows that HIV prevalence among young people and adolescents account for almost 39% of all new infections worldwide while AIDS-related deaths among adolescents increased by 50%. Find below a Joint Statement of youth-led and youth-serving organizations working with and for young people, particularly key populations and living with HIV and the advocacy report. 
The Adolescent HIV Treatment Coalition (ATC) invites you to join the global adolescent HIV movement!11/15/2017
The ATC, currently hosted within the International AIDS Society (IAS), is comprised of individuals and organizations working across the world to improve treatment access for adolescents and young people living with HIV. As we move towards ending AIDS by 2030 a collective agenda is needed in order to centre efforts to improve access to treatment for adolescents living with HIV.
By joining the coalition, you will join a platform of leaders from across the world working in research, service provision, treatment access, youth development and advocacy focused on calling attention to gaps and proposing solutions that improve the quality of life of adolescents living with HIV. The ATC platform enhances collaboration and activities among stakeholders within the HIV response in order to ensure coordinated efforts to end AIDS among adolescents living with HIV. How to join? The Adolescent HIV Treatment Coalition has two different membership opportunities. Core Membership These are individuals/organizations/institution/network with a demonstrated record of accomplishment of leadership in addressing adolescent HIV/AIDS issues. Core members commit to participating actively in coalition building and programmatic advocacy work. Criteria
All membership applications will be reviewed by the ATC Steering Committee. Applicants will be informed of the review outcome by December 2017. Please send any questions or comments to ATC Coordinator Carlo Oliveras. About the Adolescent HIV Treatment Coalition: The Adolescent HIV Treatment Coalition is a diverse community united in advocacy to make quality treatment and care available to all adolescents living with HIV. We are a collective voice promoting accountability in the HIV response that reflects the realities of adolescent lives. Our advocacy work centres around four streams of work:
With Support for HIV Young Leaders Funds, IPPF, PACT, UNESCO  Comprehensive Sexuality Education has proven to have positive impact on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), reduction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and unintended pregnancy. CSE that is beyond information, which include opportunity to learn essential life skills, can bring positive attitudes around gender and increased self-esteem among young people. However in most countries, sexuality education curriculum in the school, rarely cater to the specific SRH needs and rights of young key populations. In addition to the stigma, discrimination and social exclusion they face; reaching YKP with the mainstream approach becomes difficult when their risk behavior is considered illegal.
During the International AIDS Conference in Durban last year THE PACT revised its goals and strategized its priorities for the next three years, given the new political landscape with the recently agreed Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS in June 2016. This report looks at those priority areas and the progress made in each of them. |
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