UNAIDS Press Release - November 5, 2004

New Delhi - A two-day 'National Student and Youth Parliament Special Session on HIV/AIDS' will bring together 3,000 student and youth leaders from 500 districts across the country to deliberate and present to the Government their recommendations on the draft law on HIV/AIDS. Representatives of student unions, universities, bodies such as the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS), and rural youth will participate in the event. The youth gathering, being held in New Delhi from 6-7 November 2004, is organized by the Parliamentary Forum on HIV/AIDS (PFA) with support from India's National AIDS Control Orgnanisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Civil society organi zations including the Lawyers' Collective, Population Foundation of India and Mamta are also involved in the Youth Convention.

Speaking about the event, Oscar Fernandes, Convenor, PFA, said: "We have organized this event to enable the students and youth representatives to have a national debate on the legislation on AIDS. The involvement of young people in framing the law is critical."

The PFA has active participation from senior parliamentarians and various political leaders, including Dr R Senthil (PMK), Sarla Maheshwari (CPM), Kirit Somaiya (BJP), Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JDU), Paban Singh Ghatowar (INC).

With over 35 per cent of all reported AIDS cases in India occurring in the 15-24 age group, all stakeholders recognize that mobilizing and partnering with young people is critical. The PFA, in its 2003 Declaration, has committed to "take steps to ensure that the response has a concerted focus on youth". Reaffirming this, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare said that: "HIV/AIDS is one of the major challenges to human existence. Youth are the most vulnerable, hence should be motivated to fight against AIDS and once motivated they will be great fighters. This Youth Parliament is highly commendable as it is aiming at training young people to be ambassadors in the fight against HIV/AIDS."

Lauding and supporting this national effort to strengthen the leadership of young people, Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, congratulated the government for demonstrating its commitment to the issue. "India's 200 million young people must be protected. Today's young generation has not known a world without AIDS and there is no solution to the epidemic without their active involvement in the response," he said.

Since its launch in 2003, the PFA has been actively involved in strengthening the Forum at every level from the State to the Panchayat, to mobilize communities to respond to the growing challenge of AIDS. The youth convention is a concrete initiative that brings together elected representatives and student leaders on a shared platform. According to Mr. J.D. Seelam, Core Group Member, PFA, and chief organizer for the event, "The uniqueness of the endeavour is that for the first time such a large number of youth leaders representing diverse affiliations, associations, universities, government and civil society organizations, are coming together." "This has made 'India leads the way' a reality," he said, referring to the title of the special session on India at the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok earlier this year. Data from across the world shows that young people are highly vulnerable to HIV infection. Almost half of all new infections occur in the 15-24 age group. At the same time, young people also hold the key to prevention and to controlling spread of the virus. Dr Piot of UNAIDS, said: "AIDS is an exceptional crisis demanding an exceptional response. It particularly needs the leadership of the young who are most at risk. We have a role in making sure all young people have access to accurate and timely information and services. Young women need equal access to educational and economic opportunities." Recognizing the concern, about 180 youth participants were trained on AIDS issues, including vulnerabilities and linkages around HIV prevention, impact, care, and human rights.

Dr. Mohammed Shaffi, President, IMA (Kerala) students wing, said, "My expectation from this forum is that a law will be formulated to deal with the HIV/AIDS scenario in India. If there is a law that protects everyone, more and more people will come forward to address the issue."

Rajeshwari, M.A. Anthropology student from Pondicherry, said, "At the moment the NGO I am with is only working in the educational field but from next year we are also going to be working on HIV/AIDS. The information and training I receive here will be useful then."

041105
UN041101

Copyright © 2004 - Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). All rights reserved. UNAIDS articles, which are not formal publications of UNAIDS, may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced or translated, in part or in full, provided the source is acknowledged. The documents may not be sold or used in conjunction with commercial purposes without prior written approval from UNAIDS (contact: UNAIDS Information Centre).

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .