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Background | Registration | Contact Us | Timetable | Hotel | Cape Town | Links |The HIV/AIDS epidemic is one of the greatest challenges faced by society today, both in terms of curbing its spread, as well as learning to live with HIV/AIDS in our communities. It is a disease that affects all strata of society, from young to old. There was an estimated 40 million people infected with the HIV virus at the end of 2000. However, the impact of HIV/AIDS on the youth population in particular is becoming increasingly marked, and is now reaching alarming proportions: it is estimated that 40 million teenagers and adolescents will have contracted the virus by the year 2030. Already, over half of the people carrying the HIV virus are under the age of 25. It is therefore clear that the time has come for the youth to rise up and take their place at the centre of HIV action. It is imperative for youth to become actively involved, not only in curbing the spread of the disease but also in playing a role in protecting the rights of people living with HIV or AIDS.
Motivated by these concerns, the IFMSA, in collaboration with UNESCO, are taking HIV/AIDS and Human Rights issues to the youth all over the world. It is hoped that this will help to combat the spread of the disease, as well as to raise awareness against socio-cultural stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS and protect them from associated human rights violations. To this end, UNESCO, with the help of IFMSA has developed a Kit entitled "HIV/AIDS and Human Rights; Young People in Action" to aid youth organisations involved in HIV/AIDS prevention, promotion and advocacy campaigns. The Kit is based on the international guidelines on Human Rights and HIV/AIDS and is intended to serve as a tool in the development and initiation of appropriate youth activities.
The purpose of the workshop to be held in Cape Town, South Africa is multifaceted. Primarily, it aims to train participants on how to use the HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Kit effectively, and thus to empower them to initiate youth activities around HIV/AIDS and Human Rights in their own communities. It is also hoped that the workshop will equip participants with the necessary skills to ensure that they, as future community leaders, will advocate the care of people living with HIV/AIDS in an ethical, judicious and most appropriate manner.
The training workshop will train 50 participants, with the participants being young, dynamic youth leaders from regional countries. About 10 African countries will be included, with each country being represented by 4 participants. The workshop will last 7 days, during which time participants will receive intensive training on skills and capacity building and problem-solving with regards to the psychosocial and cultural aspect of the connection between HIV and Human Rights.