Young people are taking the International AIDS Conference by storm. Youth specific programs, youth led workshops, youth organizations, and youth delegates can be seen everywhere throughout the conference. The Toronto YouthForce organized youth to advocate for issues around comprehensive information and access to care and prevention services. These messages are being brought up in every session. And the big question being asked of every adult is – what are you going to do about it?
No longer is this a rhetorical question. Located at the Youth Pavilion is the “Youth Commitments Desk,” a space for adults to pledge how they will work in partnership with youth in their HIV/AIDS work. These commitments are specific and measurable and will be followed up on through existing youth networks.
In the first day and a half of the conference, there were already close to 150 concrete commitments made for young people. Some of the delegates who have visited the commitments desk include Bill and Melinda Gates, David Miller, the Mayor for City of Toronto (Canada), and Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, committed that “for the UN system, we are going to get our act together for a unified approach to young people.” And one of the most talked about commitments was made by Dr. Frenk, Minister of Health for Mexico, who stated, “for AIDS 2008 in Mexico, I commit to double the number of youth people” participating in the conference. From 300 delegates in Barcelona in 2002, youth will make up over 2,000 delegates in Mexico City. The impact that the YouthForce has had on the conference can be seen in the numbers. The impact the youth participants have had on HIV/AIDS programming and policy work around the world is immeasurable.
