UNESCAP Electronic Youth Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS

Young people want to be part of the solution!

UNESCAP will moderate an electronic forum on Youth and HIV/AIDS. Young people in the Asian and Pacific region are invited to:

• Express their HIV/AIDS-related concerns.
  
• Share their views and experiences concerning HIV/AIDS policies, programmes and projects.
  
• Highlight specific youth observations of HIV/AIDS-related matters on the local/community level or provincial/national/inter-country level.
  

The forum aims to:

• Provide a means for young people’s voices to be heard in the further development of HIV/AIDS policies of UNESCAP.
• Advance the implementation of UNESCAP mandates on HIV/AIDS.
• Increase advocacy by young people in the region and provide a channel for their voices to be heard at the policy level.
• Collect youth advices in shaping UNESCAP’s work programme 2006-2007 on HIV/AIDS. This includes advocacy work as well as technical cooperation projects.
• Promote greater involvement of young people living with HIV/AIDS in regional HIV/AIDS issues.
• Help young people understand UNESCAP mandates on HIV/AIDS.
  

UNESCAP values young people’s advice
for developing its further work on HIV/AIDS.

• The new Health and Development Section of UNESCAP is in the process of developing a comprehensive strategy for its work on health and young people, in particular, and health and development in the region in general. Your input into this forum will directly influence our strategy and work programme.



• UNESCAP’s membership covers the entire geopolitical scope of the Asian and Pacific region. UNESCAP works closely with governments on development issues, including HIV/AIDS. Your advice will enable us to raise your concerns for the attention of governments in the UNESCAP membership. Let us know how you feel HIV/AIDS could be better addressed in the countries and communities where you live, and how young people could be involved in the process.



• More about UNESCAP    

Clicking on the banner will take you to the UNESCAP forums board. Once you have registered, you can post your inputs and comments under the main themes. You are also invited to add new themes to the forum.

1. Youth HIV/AIDS strategy for the Asian and Pacific region

Young people have been eloquent in their demands and concerns regarding HIV/AIDS. The latest international gathering of young people took place during the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok (11 – 16 July). The youth leadership statement specifies a number of issues young people are concerned about.

• What do you think of the youth leadership statement?
• Does it need strengthening? Should it be changed to make the document more applicable to the concerns of young people in your community/country?
• What are some young people’s issues that are missing in the statement?

2. Political commitment for greater youth involvement on HIV/AIDS issues

• How can young people’s voices on HIV/AIDS be better heard in your community/ country?
• Are there policies in place that allow you to participate actively?
• What government support do you know of that helps young people participate in HIV/AIDS-related action?
• What more could governments do to increase young people's involvement in HIV/AIDS-related issues?
• What do you think governments should do to fulfil their commitments made in recent UNESCAP resolutions?

3. Strengthening the capacity of young people and youth organizations

Greater involvement requires young people, youth organizations and youth networks to have the relevant skills and knowledge to advance their advocacy work.

• What do you think needs to be done to strengthen youth capacities and to ensure greater youth involvement in local, national, subregional and regional (the Asian and Pacific region)HIV/AIDS responses?

       What will happen next?

The Youth Advisory Group will run for a limited time, September - October 2004: Your inputs wil be used to take forward UNESCAP policies and programmes and to inform governments on the issues raised by the young people who participated in this electronic forum. We shall also share your views with other UN agencies who work directly with young people on HIV/AIDS issues.

The forum will be maintained to keep you informed about our progress. You may use the forum to discuss issues of concern and in 2005 we shall seek your inputs again on HIV/AIDS-related issues.