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Regional News
International
 | | GYCA RFP Marco Gomes and Prog. Coordinator Joya Banerjee visiting AIDS Orphans in Blantyre, Malawi |
1. Airline Tax to Fund HIV/AIDS Programmes
2. UNFPA coverage
3. Voices of America
1. 14 Nations Announce Airline Ticket Tax To Fund HIV/AIDS Programmes
Source: KAISER WEEKLY CUSTOMIZED
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/
Fourteen nations led by France on Friday, June 2nd, 2006 at a special session announced a plan to impose a tax on airline tickets as a means of providing funds to increase access to HIV/AIDS drugs for people in developing countries, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Brazil, Chile, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, France, Gabon, Jordan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Norway and the United Kingdom have agreed to impose the tax, which is expected to raise more than $258.3 million annually. The countries plan to use the funds to purchase antiretroviral drugs in bulk to help reduce the costs, and to provide drug companies with incentives to manufacture more pediatric drugs, according to the Times. The US opposed the tax.
2. UNFPA Website
www.unfpa.org (VIDEO and report)
http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=623
Voices of Youth on HIV/AIDS
UNITED NATIONS, New YorkTo win the battle against HIV and AIDS, it is crucial that young people be seen as actors, rather than spectators, and as part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Members of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS and Global Youth PartnersM presented to delegates the findings of a report they researched and wrote, Our Voice, Our Future, published by the United Nations Population Fund.
3. Voices of America
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-06-02-voa1.cfm
UN Reviews Progress in Fight Against HIV/AIDS
By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
02 June 2005
The U.N. General Assembly is holding a high-level meeting Thursday to review progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Delegates are being told that the AIDS epidemic is spreading faster than the response to it.
In a report prepared for the General Assembly, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the battle against AIDS is losing ground. Despite years of concerted effort, the report says, the epidemic is expanding.
It concludes that the commitment to fighting the AIDS virus is inadequate in many countries where AIDS is emerging as a major problem. Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest-hit, accounting for 64 percent of the world's HIV infections and 74 percent of all AIDS deaths last year.
Among the most vulnerable groups are young people, women and girls, and intravenous drug users.
Strategists in the AIDS fight says among their biggest challenges is trying to help this mostly young and female group to protect themselves.
One idea has been to enlist groups of youth from these most vulnerable groups who can communicate with their peers. On the eve of the AIDS assembly, the United Nations published a booklet written by young team of researchers from 12 South Asian, African and Caribbean countries, talking directly to people their age.
One of the authors, 20-year old Eunice Aghete of Lagos, Nigeria says the key to the strategy is that young people simply find their peers more believable.
"The best way to reach out to young people is through young people. I don't think I could be able to sit down comfortably and allow a woman of 70 to talk to me about HIV/AIDS or talk to me about prevention. I would listen out of fear, out of age gap, out of respect, but would pay more attention to my own peer who would sit down and tell me that HIV/AIDS is real and these are the ways to prevent it. That's what young people are asking for," Mr. Aghete says.
Another contributor to the project is Vikram Singh Laishram of the Indian state of Manipur. He has been living with the HIV virus since he was 15, when he was an intravenous drug user sharing needles with others. Now, at the age of 22, he is trying to save others from his fate, working as a counselor in an AIDS education project.
"I got infected during my formative years. That's when I was not mature at all. So I feel I'm not responsible for my disease," Mr. Laishram says. "Now after working on this field for about seven years I feel that I'm responsible for my treatment, not my disease, and I feel more secure now because there are many peers who have come out from the stigma and discrimination who is willing to disclose their status in the society."
The young people say in the preface to the booklet, "we ask to be regarded as assets, not liabilities. Our diverse voices need to be heard so we can be instruments for change."
U.N. Population Fund director Thoraya Obaid said she had been touched by one youth's plea to his elders for information about AIDS. She quoted him saying "You say we are too young to know. We say we are to young to die".
Western Europe
GYCA, YouAct and CHOICE team together for an advocacy training in Warsaw, Poland
May 12 14, GYCA Western European focal point, Rose Koenders, Mila Gorokhovich, GYCA North Secretariat Project Officer, and Marije Neverdeen, Coordinator of YouAct (European Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health) teamed together to organize and facilitate a 3 day training for 18 youth leaders representing 15 Eastern and Central European countries. This workshop was a preparatory training for youth leaders attending the UNGASS +5 Review in New York as well as the IAC in August 2006. The training was also an ad-hoc local gathering for youth from Eastern and Central Europe and had six objectives: to share information about HIV/AIDS across Europe around national policies, exchange and share strategies and best practices, learn about advocacy processes, to understand the HIV/AIDS UNGASS agenda, build participants capacity and confidence to advocate for their issues at the UN and in their own countries, and to develop a final action plan for follow up, including use of movie as awareness-raising tool.
Despite the ambitious objective plan, the training ended very successfully. Each participant created an action plan to use as a follow up tool after the workshop. As a group, 5 key issues were identified that youth felt were the most critical in their work. These included confronting religious and cultural opposition, drug abuse among young people, the need for comprehensive sexual education in schools, addressing stigma and discrimination towards YLWHAs and young people of different genders. These issues were incorporated into a letter drafted by the group as an advocacy tool for those who will attend UNGASS + 5. Additionally, the youth participants will send the letter to their country delegations which will attend UNGASS +5. Click here to download the letter.
At this training, many participants understood what the word advocacy really means, how advocacy would help their current work and how advocacy is useful on the international level (i.e. UNGASS) and on the local level. This was one of the most important and challenging components of the training. By sharing information among each other and with useful exercises, young people understood how to apply advocacy in their own work and how that is linked with international declarations and negotiations. Ultimately, everyone was very motivated and excited about the upcoming UNGASS +5 event and especially, in keeping in touch about the different action plans that each participant drafted.
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Click here to download "National Policy to Fight HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Ukraine" by Dr. Filippovych Serhii from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Northern Africa & Arab States
1) The GYP intiative in Egypt launched their final website which include their strategy and work plan for fighting HIV/AIDS beside their analysis for the Egyptian policy against HIV/AIDS and GYP-Egypt is charactaristic campaign for Egyptian youth working against HIV/AIDS with suppport of UNFPA check www.gypegypt.org.
Contact Amr: amr@youthaidscoalition.org for more information.
2) Initiative in Morocco - In order to strengthen its National Strategy for fighting HIV-AIDS, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Morocco are organizing special trainings on HIV-AIDS prevention for the religious leaders to sensitize them on the issue, religious leaders play critical role in the religious Arabic community.
3) Youth Declaration of ANND (Benchmark document) - The Arab NGO Network for development preparing a document discus the status of youth in the region, services accessibility, obstacles, and suggestion for youth involvement in the region. The document will be prepared by prepared by Youth NGOS in different ten Arab countries.
4) Arab League Youth empowerment project - The Project developed many strategies for youth empowerment in the Arab region. They lunched the Arab Social Forum (ArSF) is a part of the global process of the World Social Forum. Preparing for presenting the results youth empowerment workshop and progress of the project including the recommendations of several workshops discussing the issue in the General assembly on ministers of Health next month.
5) UNAIDS secretariat has meeting in Cairo with the representative of UN agencies and NGOs in the region to discus the role of each partner in fighting HIV/AIDS in Cairo, no youth were invited and the event not yet published on the UNAIDS website.
6) GYP-Lebanon lunching their work plan, the advocacy work plan aims to increase commitment of a minimum of 6 leaders/policy makers and decision makers at the municipal/community level for promoting accessibility of young people to HIV/AIDS services and information within the youth friendly services offered in 2 "Centers of Excellence" (2 regions of Lebanon) and throughout March 2006 and Increased commitment of municipalities and community leaders/policy makers and decision makers for increasing level of local funding in the amount of $10,000-20,000 towards ensuring accessibility of young people to HIV/AIDS services and information within the youth friendly services offered in 2 Centers of Excellence (2 regions of Lebanon) and throughout March 2006.
West Africa
1) GYCA @ African Civil Society Consultation on Abuja +5 and UNGASS +5, African Civil Society pre-Summit Consultation on TB and HIV and Abuja +5
On April 10-12 2006, over 65 African civil society representatives met in Abuja, Nigeria to discuss and agree on strategies for greater engagement of civil society in key HIV and AIDS advocacy issues as affects Africa. In particular, the CSOs discussed strategies for promoting accountability among African leaders regarding their commitments to the Abuja Declaration and Framework of Action on HIV/AIDS, as well as the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment. At the end of the three-day meeting, participants adopted an African Civil Society Position Statement on HIV and AIDS in Africa; Moving to Action. They also formed the African Civil Society Coalition on HIV and AIDS as a platform for continent-wide engagement on HIV and AIDS issues.
GYCA members that participated were Dabesaki, Kingsley, Azubike and Karl Williams from Ghana. GYCA members pushed young peoples issues and made sure it was included in the African Civil Society Position Paper. Azubike was co-opted as a member of the international steering committee of the African Civil Society Coalition on HIV/AIDS thereby making GYCA, member of the international steering committee.
In 2001, African Leaders met in Abuja Nigeria to review the challenges that the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other related infections were posing to the continent. At that meeting, the leaders adopted the Abuja Declaration and Framework of Action on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases, which spell out urgent steps that African governments need to take the halt the epidemics.
Held under the auspices of the African Union (then known as the OAU), the meeting was a unique commitment by African political leaders to scale up their responses particularly to Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria. In recent years, African leaders have committed themselves to various other action frameworks, such as the AU Ministers of Health Declaration of TB as an Emergency.
2) Media and Commutations skills workshop, Abuja, Nigeria
The workshop was organized by BBC, UNCIEF, UNAIDS, Ministry of Youth Inter Government Affairs and special duties, Nigeria. Participants were drawn from different Nigerian states. Jasper Oei Assistant Programme Officer HIV/AIDS of the UNCIEF spoke at the opening session on the need for young people to motivate themselves and empower others who are infected and create more information strategies. The head of the HIV/AIDS project at BBC spoke about building the capacity of young people living with HIV/AIDS, on media skills, and positive living. In her speech she noted that BBC has been working in Nigeria for a long period and is currently working on a project that will educate, empower, and build the skills of Nigerian young people who are living with HIV/AIDS in partnership with UNICEF and other government agencies.
Mr. Emmanuel Aihassan of NACA, spoke on the HIV/AIDS situation in Nigeria and the rise in the prevalence rate. He also talked about the trends affecting the rural and urban ratios of Nigeria as a result of unemployment, cultural factors, and social factors including poverty, lack of health facilities etc.
Jasper of UNICEF talked about the Unite for Children global campaign and quoted that as young people we need to be advocates for children against AIDS in our various communities. He encouraged young people to get involved in this campaign and informed everyone of the four major components of the campaign which is the Four Ps including primary prevention, prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT), pediatric treatment, and protection, care support for children affected by HIV/AIDS. As young people there are two important Ps we need to look at and thats participation and partnership which will make this campaign fulfill its goals.
The workshop also looked at sex and gender and how human rights plays a major role the lives of young people. There was a presentation from National Youth network in HI/AIDS in Nigeria (NYNETHA) by the National coordinator Dr Yaka Sai. This was geared at improving the national networks in Nigeria and working with other networks around the country. Young people came up with different slogans like keep morals up, Think positively, and Delay sex, AIDS Kills. Young people living with HIVAIDS were given media skills for effective participation and building the capacity of positive youths on how the media prepares its programs. BBC has a programme FLAVA which is currently on Air in Nigeria is aimed at campaigning against stigmatization, advocacy and information sharing among Nigerian Youths on HIV/AIDS.
The media and communication skills workshop and training was the first of its kind in Nigeria for young people living with HIV/AIDS. It was a real capacity and developmental training empowering youth. Young people living with HIV should be in the forefront with prevention and the control of stigma and discrimination in our country and beyond. A total of twenty eight young people attended the workshop, including five members from GYCA.
3) PRESS RELEASE
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS APPLAUD AFRICAN LEADERS ON
ABUJA COMMITMENTS - BOLD AFRICAN TARGETS SIGNAL AFRICAN SHIFT
TOWARDS ACCELERATING ACCESS
ABUJA, NIGERIA, May 5 2006: In a bold move, African leaders meeting in Abuja
have unequivocally demonstrated their commitment to accelerating access to HIV/AIDS, TB
and malaria services in the next five years. Meeting in Abuja this week, at the Heads of
State Summit to review progress towards the implementation of the Abuja Declaration on
ATM and other related infectious diseases, leaders adopted ambitious continental
targets for implementation of programmes addressing the three diseases.
On the last day of the 3-day Special Summit on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria organised by the African Union, heads of state drew up two strongly worded documents; the Abuja Call for Accelerated Action Towards Universal access to HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria, and Africas Common Position to the High Level meeting of the UNGASS on AIDS. These documents spell out the areas in which Africa will seek to extend universal access to prevention, care, support and treatment for HIV-related services. The key outcomes of the Summit include commitments to reach:
BOLD TARGETS ACHIEVABLE BY 2010
* at least 80% of pregnant women have access to prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT);
* 5 million AIDS orphans and 80% of orphans and vulnerable children have access to basic services;
* at least 80% of those in need, especially women and children, have access to HIV/AIDS treatment, including antiretroviral therapy as well as care and support;
* ensure that at least 80% of target populations have access to voluntary testing and counselling services
* at least 80% of target populations have access to and are able to use condoms for HIV prevention
* 100% of HIV positive TB patients have access to antiretroviral treatment and access to HIV testing and counselling services
CLEAR ACCOUNTABILTY MECHANISMS
* clear and inclusive mechanisms for the establishment of national targets by December 2006
* a well-articulated mechanism for jointly reviewing progress at the regional level in 2008
* a strong role for national parliaments as well as the pan-African Parliament in reviewing progress on implementation
* monitoring of progress by African countries to reach the 15% target for health allocations in national budgets, as agreed at the 2001 Abuja Declaration of Action
RECOGNITION OF THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
* a commitment to strengthening in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders particularly civil society partners affected by the three diseases planning, monitoring and evaluation of progress;
* a call to civil society within the Call for Accelerated Action, to enhance their monitoring role in order to operationalise the commitments made in the Abuja Declaration and to increase their own efforts in the fight against the three diseases
The Summit took on board concerns expressed by activists and officials in many developing countries since the concept of Universal Access was publicly discussed by leaders of the G8 in July 2005. According to Leonard Okello of ActionAid International, It is quite commendable that African leaders are committing themselves very strongly to supporting universal access. This is an important demonstration of responsible leadership by our leaders and we are very proud that they have agreed to these targets and taken the concerns of civil society seriously.
Despite the good news, some observers have cautioned that the real work begins now. As Tidiane Tall of the African Council of AIDS Service Organisations (AfriCASO) notes, "As civil society, we have learned that commitments are important but actions on the ground are even more important. We need to be vigilant - especially at the national level. Governments must know that we are watching them and we will work with them to realise these hopes and aspirations.
The outcome of the Summit demonstrates that African heads of states seek to move beyond the rhetoric of Universal Access by tying themselves to ambitious but realisable goals. As Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo suggested "We have now agreed that we are going to have Universal Access. Some people talk about 80% or 90%. We are talking about 100%."
Issued by the African Civil Society Coalition on HIV and AIDS
3) "Ethical concerns loom high in international
HIV/AIDS collaborative clinical trials"
An editorial in the African Journal of Neurological Sciences has alerted on the high prevalence of ethical concerns in international HIV/Aids collaborative researches currently fashionable across Africa. The editorial challenges Africa's research elites to stand up and be counted as protectors of the vulnerable who are often recruited into many of these trials with little protection and benefits from the research.
Click on this link: http://ajns.mine.nu to read the full editorial titled: "Ethics in the North and in the South: The African elites should not be silent".
Central Africa
Central Africa news coming soon!
East Africa
1) God and the Fight Against AIDS by Helen Epstein in New York Review of Books - Addressing the controversial HIV/AIDS battle in Uganda which fluctuates with influnce from the US, born-again Christians, effective social marketing campaigns for condom use and myths about declining HIV incidence rates: God and the Fight Against AIDS
2) HIV/AIDS Education for Youth Through Mobile Art Gallery
The program objective is educating youth using mobile art gallery which is moved from school to school. The program target group to date is in school youth and the program is organized by the Ethiopian Youth network, and implemented by the youth amateur artists, who are 31. They have drawn paintings/art o n different issues, important to in school youth, on HIV/AIDS, on stigma and discrimination, HIV transmission, on the AB and C approach. Most of the drawing was so attractive and appealing to the youth and the explanation is forwarded by the artists themselves.
They have taken behavioral communication training to improve their work, particularly in the area of message development, pre testing, channels of communication and other issues of strategic communication on HIV/AIDS. The youth amateur artist in collaboration with the Addis Ababa youth network are trying to attract support and to promote their work and reach more in school youth and scale up their work in the other regions of the country.
3) The annual African Development Forum (ADF) serves as a critical meeting-point for African leaders to discuss and reflect on the challenges faced by Africa and progress made with addressing them in order to strengthen on-going initiatives and workout strategies for future interventions. The agenda for each ADF is usually cross-cutting and thematic issues focused on during sessions are based on the overall conference theme and regional priorities. The theme of this year's ADF is "Youth Leadership in the 21st Century" and it will hold in Addis Ababa between October 30th to November 4th 2005. This is a unique opportunity to reflect on the diverse initiatives of African youth across various issues, in order to seek the best ways to forge a partnership of young leaders working on various issues, so as to draw from their skills, exposure, expertise and experience to support the efforts of their governments towards national development. Moreso, as the ADF comes just a few weeks after the tenth year review of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), it will be a great meeting for young leaders in Africa to work out practical ways to integrate and further the WPAY priorities at the national level. This year's ADF is also an opportunity to launch a regional youth Partnership for Development and a platform to further the objectives of NEPAD, the MDGs and National Poverty Reduction Strategies. We invite you to join an active five week long dialogue from July 11 to August 19 between young leaders from across Africa which will focus on ICT4D, Health including HIV/AIDS/SRH, Environmental Sustainability, Education for All and Youth Employment/Entrepreneurship. Discussions each week will focus on the situation of issues relating to each thematic area and as it affects young people in African countries, and weekly summaries will be sent to the group in English and French we would as well explore the possibility of tranlating them into Kiswahilli. We hope that this discussion will help us to assess the situation of youth in the region and evolve strategic recommendations which can be shared with the young people and leaders that will be participating at the ADF. To join the online discussion, please subscribe by sending blank email to: developmentpartnership-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or at www.yahoogroups.com/groups/developmentpartnership .
Please contact adebayo@developmentpartnership.org, if you have any concerns or queries. I look forward to seeing you there.
ADEBAYO Samuel Media and Strategy Director Development Partnership International
Southern Africa
World AIDS Day Planned Activities
Media Breakfast
Youth Vision Zambia is currently planning an informal interactive session with journalists to analyze youth involvement in HIV/AIDS programs and the media depiction of such activities. This meeting will also allow media outlets in Zambia to learn more about GYCA.
World AIDS Days March
Youth Vision Zambia will join other organizations in a march to commemorate World AIDS Day. The organization will produce and distribute IEC materials and copies of the global report Our Voice Our Future to the attendees.
South Asia
1) World AIDS Day Planned Activity in India
For World AIDS Day, Peoples Empowerment Organization in collaboration with the Kripa Society will be organizing a public training on HIV/AIDS for his peers, young people who inject drugs, in Imphal West, Manipur, a region where injecting drug use among young people is the most common mode of HIV transmission. PEO will be distributing nutritional support items for PLWHAs in the local hospice, as well as distributing IEC materials in the local language to community members.
2) World AIDS Day Activities in Pakistan
1) PSA launching -
AMAL is designing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) along with UNICEF that will be launched on World AIDS day. This will be done in a gathering of selected groups of young people in different areas in Pakistan.
2) Launch of Strings Documentary -
AMAL is a part of an awareness raising documentary which is planned to launch on World AIDS Day
3) Awareness raising walk (Quetta) -
An awareness raising walk will be organized to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS involving marginalized and vulnerable youth groups in Quetta (it is a place adjacent to Afghanistan Boarder)
4) HIV/AIDS awareness raising article -
An article about HIV/AIDS and role of youth will be forward to print media for publication. Prominent journalists and newspaper will be contacted for this activity.
Selection of Pakistan Country Team
After having discussions with a number of youth at the national and grassroots level, below are the members for the World AIDS Day activities
1) Raza Husnain (Islamabad)
2) Rana Gulzar Ahmad (Quetta Balochistan)
3) Ahmad Ali (Quetta Balochistan)
3) From Breakthrough: Reducing the Risk of HIV/AIDS Among Women in India: What Kind of Man Are You Campaign on Women and HIV Launch on May 17, 2005
Check it out at: http://www.breakthrough.tv/event_details.asp?eventid=54&id=4
4) From OneWorld South Asia: LIVING POSITIVELY! Of dreams and reality: Fighting AIDS in Rajasthan:
Check it out at: http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/111068/1/
5) Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)
194-A, Safdarjang Enclave, New Delhi 110029, India
Phone: 91 9811729093 /Phone/Fax: 91 11 26183978
Email: icyoindia@gmail.com / icyo@icyo-india.org
Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of over 354 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.
Affiliation: Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development; Member of Asian Youth Council (AYC); Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth Environment Network (SAYEN), Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand; ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign; Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network; Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD); International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO); Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD); World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.
Asia Pacific
1)Asia-Pacific - Country Epidemiological Information This map provides you epidemiological information by country and is directly extracted from the UNAIDS website with the most updated statistics. Check it here: Asia Pacific Epidemiological Information. Please click the country name for more information.
2) 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health(APCRSH) in Malaysia
- November 2005 This gathering will present an opportunity for policy makers, programme planners, programme managers, service providers, GOs, NGOs, researchers, educators and funders to meet, discuss and share experiences and ideas as well as expertise with their counterparts from Asia and the Pacific Region on important reproductive and sexual health issues. For more information or to register: www.3apcrsh.org Or contact apcrsh2005@myjaring.net
3) Promoting Standards for Socio-Cultural Research on the Issues of HIV/AIDS and Human Trafficking in Bangkok, Thailand - 19-21 September 2005 This seminar aims to create a platform for discussing the role of socio-cultural research in the response to HIV/AIDS, and ways in which this role can be strengthened. Emphasis will be placed on issues related
to the quality of ongoing socio-cultural research efforts - be it in terms of agenda setting, methodologically, ethically or in terms of publication / dissemination / use of research findings. For further information, please go here: http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=401#5485 Or contact Praveena Gunaratnam at g.praveena@unescobkk.org
4) U.N. says Japan must raise public awareness on HIV/AIDS, Japan Today, July 21, 2005 - LOS ANGELES Japan needs to put out more upfront information about HIV/AIDS to educate people, especially youngsters, in order to check a continuous rise in the disease, a U.N. expert said Wednesday. Peter Piot, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, said that a lack of information leads Japanese youngsters to still believe in myths that AIDS is a disease only caught by foreigners.
"When I look at the newspapers, reports from the media, it is rarely an issue in the Japanese media," he said. Piot said while Japan is one of the Asian countries with the lowest number of HIV/AIDS cases, the number is rising continuously. Without educational efforts, Piot said, " Japan will turn to at least the level of what we've seen in other highly developed countries."
Piot said the recent surge in HIV/AIDS cases in Japan is mainly caused by a change in sexual behavior among youngsters, particularly among urban young men and women, who have gained more sexual freedom. "It is also reflected in the increase in the rate of the sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, chlamydia infections," he said.
According to a survey by Japan 's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of fresh HIV/AIDS cases totaled 1,165 in 2004. Of the total, 668 people were infected through sexual contact, either homosexual or heterosexual. According to a U.N. report released earlier this month, the Asia and Pacific region recorded the second largest regional number of HIV cases worldwide after sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 8 million people living with HIV. East Asia is facing the fastest growth in the epidemic in the world, with a growing number of HIV cases in China, Indonesia and Vietnam, the report said. (Kyodo News)
Latin America & the Caribbean
1) World AIDS Day Activities:
The following activities are currently planned:
Under its OVC Community Based Programme, GYN+ will be hosing two 1- day HIV/AIDS Sensitization Workshops for Teachers of the Ascension and David Rose Community High Schools and the St Pius Primary School. The Workshop Sessions will be held between December 1-9 2005
Mount an Information Booth at World AIDS Day Rally, December 1, 2005
Participate in Peace Tiles Workshop for Children, unconfirmed
Participate/Guest Speaker, British Virgin Islands National Summit on Youth and HIV/AIDS, December 1, 2005
2) A Story of Determination, Motivation and Inspiration - Sherlock Arminus Rose, aka Mark in Georgetown, Guyana An inspiring story about a young man who, as a public minibus driver affected by AIDS deaths of those around him, took initiative to bring education, awareness and hope to reverse the spread of HIV in Guyana, the country with the second highest HIV prevalence rate in Latin America and Carribean. The full story can be read here:http://www.un.org/works/smallislands/guyana.html. Please contact GYCA Carribean focal point - Edward Charles: edward@youthaidscoalition.org - for more information
3) Pan Caribbean Newsletter
El Caribe y Amrica Latina
1) Mxico ser sede de la Conferencia Internacional de Sida 2008
* Es el evento ms grande sobre el tema
* 20 mil personas de todos los mbitos y nacionalidades se darn cita
* Polticas contra la discriminacin brindan un marco ejemplar para la reunin
Mxico DF, febrero 13 de 2006 (Roco Snchez/NotieSe).- Mxico ser el primer pas de Amrica Latina en albergar la Conferencia Internacional de Sida, realizada cada dos aos por la Sociedad Internacional de Sida (IAS, por sus siglas en ingls) y que este ao se llevar a cabo en Toronto, Canad.
As lo inform, en conferencia de prensa, el director ejecutivo de la IAS, Craig McClure, quien detall que este es el mayor evento de salud realizado en el mundo. Se espera que para su edicin en nuestro pas acudan unas 20 mil personas de los mbitos cientfico, civil y gubernamental, del 3 al 8 de agosto de 2008, en el Centro Banamex de la ciudad de Mxico.
"La realidad es que no estamos usando las herramientas (condones y
medicamentos) que tenemos actualmente contra el sida", y es necesario explotar todos sus beneficios antes de pretender encontrar nuevas herramientas como vacunas de cualquier tipo, explic McClure. "La conferencia se hace tambin buscando eliminar la discriminacin contra los sectores ms afectados por la epidemia, como mujeres, jvenes y hombres que tienen sexo con otros hombres, pues son el estigma y la discriminacin los que dan poder al virus", enfatiz.
De acuerdo con Pedro Cahn, presidente de la que ser la XVII Conferencia Internacional de Sida, entre los criterios para seleccionar a Mxico como sede del encuentro est el marco legal que nuestro pas ha construido en materia de no discriminacin, del cual carecen muchas de las naciones latinoamericanas.
"Esperamos que, como ha sucedido en otras regiones, la realizacin de la conferencia en Mxico tenga gran impacto en los otros pases", dijo el mdico argentino, quien agreg que estas conferencias bienales se llevan a cabo desde 1985 para buscar una respuesta global contra la epidemia, porque "cada persona que se infecta podra no haberse infectado, cada persona que se enferma podra no haber enfermado o no haber muerto, si todos hiciramos algo para evitarlo".
Cuestionado sobre el papel que juegan los credos religiosos en la lucha contra la pandemia., Cahn adelant que la IAS buscar un acercamiento con representantes de diversas doctrinas para establecer relaciones de colaboracin con miras a frenar la expansin del virus.
Por su parte el doctor Luis Soto, copresidente de la XVII conferencia e investigador del Instituto Nacional de la Nutricin, consider que los esfuerzos en materia de prevencin han sido deficientes en la regin latinoamericana, pues stos no deben limitarse a la promocin del uso del condn, sino que deben estar basados en la informacin y la educacin sobre sexualidad.
A esta opinin se sum el doctor Jorge Saavedra, director general del Centro Nacional para la Prevencin y Control del VIH/sida (Censida), quien record que precisamente por esto el lema de la campaa anual contra el VIH en Mxico es la "educacin en sexualidad". "Adems, el hecho de que la Conferencia Internacional vaya a celebrarse en nuestro pas abre la puerta para que se hable sobre el tema" y as se rompa con los mitos que rodean a la sexualidad y a la infeccin.
A nombre del gobierno mexicano, el funcionario agradeci la seleccin que la IAS hizo de Mxico como punta de lanza en materia de no discriminacin por VIH en la regin y enfatiz que el siguiente gobierno deber continuar implementando el combate al VIH como una poltica de Estado, pues "la sociedad ya no permitira que hubiera un retroceso en esta lucha".
2) Arrancan en El Salvador congresos sobre VIH en Latinoamrica
Por primera vez se realizan simultneamente tres encuentros regionales sobre la epidemia
San Salvador, noviembre 7 de 2005 (Redaccin NotieSe).- Desde hoy y hasta el 11 de noviembre se llevarn a cabo tres importantes foros en materia de VIH/sida en la ciudad de San Salvador, El Salvador. Se trata del III Foro Latinoamericano y del Caribe en VIH/sida/ITS, el IV Congreso Centroamericano de ITS/VIH/sida (Concasida) y el IV Encuentro Centroamericano de Personas Viviendo con VIH/sida. Este ltimo espera la llegada de ms de 3 mil 500 personas provenientes de toda Amrica Latina.
Por primera vez se realizan estos tres foros en un solo pas, lo que lo convierte al evento de mayor importancia que se realiza sobre ITS/VIH/SIDA en el mundo; y busca sobre todo crear un espacio de educacin que permita al personal de salud, personas viviendo con VIH/SIDA, y activistas disponer de la informacin cientfica y actualizada para el abordaje integral de la situacin del VIH/SIDA en la regin.
El evento, reunir a personalidades como Peter Piot, director ejecutivo de ONUSIDA; Mirta Roses, directora de la Organizacin Panamericana de la Salud (OPS); Jim Yong Kim, director del Departamento de VIH/sida de la Organizacin Mundial de la Salud (OMS); Ann Benerman, funcionaria de UNICEF; Antonia Coello Novella, comisionada de Salud de Nueva York; Luis Loures, director adjunto de ONUSIDA para Europa, entre otros.
Sobre el Encuentro
El Salvador recibir el IV Encuentro Centroamericana de personas viviendo con VIH/SIDA, foro que dio inicio en el 2000 en Ro de Janeiro, Brasil, donde se tuvo como lema la frase "Nunca ms una sola voz". En esta ocasin los portadores de VIH/sida (PVVS) se unirn para tratar temas como el impacto del Tratado de Libre Comercio frente al acceso universal a los antirretrovirales o la respuesta del Fondo Global ante las necesidades de las PVVS y las perspectivas a futuro.
El tercer Foro Latinoamericano y del Caribe en VIH/sida e ITS continuar en esta ciudad hasta el prximo viernes, en donde se plantearn las diversas problemticas, como lo relacionado con la discriminacin hacia nios y nias que viven con VIH/sida; sexualidad y VIH; la responsabilidad de la cooperacin internacional; resistencia y suspensin del medicamento, VIH/sida y violacin de derechos en las fuerzas armadas, entre otros temas.
North America
1) 411 Presents
A Youth Focused HIV/AIDS Arts Festival During the 2006 International AIDS Conference
August 15-16, 2006 - Lorraine Kimsa Theatre For Young People - Toronto
Check it here: Click here for your free ticket.
The 411 Initiative For Change (411) - a Canadian youth-run organization is proud to announce a two day Youth Arts Festival focusing on HIV/AIDS Education featuring special presentations of 'The Corner' a dynamic musical theatre program merging pop culture with life saving HIV/AIDS information. The festival works to engage young people and the community at large in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, while also combating misinformation, stigma and stereotyping related to HIV/AIDS.
The program features special guest musicians Melanie Durrant, and Rochester aka Juice, poet Dwayne Morgan, hip-hop educator Will Strickland, among others special guests . The music and theatre components are complemented by a multimedia exhibit of photography and videos related to HIV/AIDS and young people. This festival provides is free and open to the public of all ages providing a unique opportunity for young people and families in Toronto to take part in activities related to the International AIDS Conference.
When: Tuesday August 15 & Wednesday August 16, 2006
*Doors 6:30PM / Show 7:00PM -9:00PM (no intermission)
Where: Lorraine Kimsa Theatre For Young People (165 Front Street East, Toronto)
Tickets: FREE single and group tickets available at www.whatsthe411.ca/ticket
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