Invitation to ICASA 2005 Youth e-Consultations
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I wish to invite African youth and youth globally to an e-
consultation on the forthcoming 14th international conference on
AIDS and STI in Africa holding in Abuja in December 2005.
Where? http://www.groups.takingitglobal.org/youthatICASA2005
The purpose of the consultation is to fashion out the participa-
tion of youth at the conference and serve as a gathering place
for youth to discuss emerging issues pre-conference, share ex-
periences during the conference with other youth who are unable
to attend the conference and immediately after the conference.
In the past, the involvement of youth in meetings of this nature
have been that of "an opportunity to attend an international
conference." Now, we want the trend to change, we want to move
beyond this level to prove that the youth of Africa are capable
of leading the future in the fight against HIV/AIDS, we need
thematic involvement of youth, we want to see youth organise at
the committee level (the scientific committee inclusive), we
want to see youth at the plenary, we want to see youth in na-
tional delegations, we want to see youth sitting in high level
panels, we want to see young professionals showcasing their ef-
forts, we want to see youth at every level, making useful con-
tributions to the conference processes.
The underlying questions are:
1. What were the challenges that have prevented youth from ac-
cessing the previous ICASA's and how can we address these?
2. What lessons were learned from the Nairobi ICASA Youth Forum
and how can we improve on them?
3. What do youth want to see at the Abuja conference (possible
activites, and levels of youth involvement) and how can we en-
sure that other youth from the communities where we come from
who are unable to attend the conference can benefit from the
conference processes?
4. How can we ensure the adequate representation of youth at ma-
jor sessions and sections of the conference?
5. How can we translate the outcomes of the conference into ac-
tions within the framework of existing national, regional and
international frameworks, concepts and commitments like UNGASS,
UN MDGs, ICPD, NEPAD etc.
In order to participate, please send an e-mail to:
mailto:youthatICASA2005-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
or sign up at
http://www.groups.takingitglobal.org/youthatICASA2005
At the XV International Conference on AIDS held in Bangkok Thai-
land, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot said that youth
are on the agenda of the UNAIDS and he has a personal commitment
to ensuring that this works from the national to global levels,
but the youth have to set the framework for UNAIDS to do this
effectively.
The organisers of the ICASA 2005 Conference have given their
commitments to ensuring effective youth participation at the
conference. It is now up to us to set the ball rolling! THIS IS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR, NOW IT IS HERE. We have to maxi-
mally utilise it!
Hope to "see" you at
http://www.groups.takingitglobal.org/youthatICASA2005
NB: It will be appreciated if this invitation is circulated
across several networks.
--
Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima
Coordinator, Students Without Borders
PO Box 448 Woji 500007 Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Mobile: +234-8055182526
mailto:dabesaki@yahoo.com
http://www.dabesaki.freeservers.com
http://www.teacherswithoutborders.org