Nigerian Youth Declaration on HIV/AIDS
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Introduction:
This youth declaration is an outcome of the National Youth
HIV/AIDS Consultative sessions held in Lagos, Enugu, Maiduguri
and Port Harcourt on the 21st, 23rd, 25th and 27th of April 2004
respectively. Coordinated by youth-led and youth serving organi-
zations in each of the zones where it was held, the sessions
witnessed a total participation of 260 youths.
Preamble:
In preparation for the 15th International Conference on AIDS,
youth globally mobilized and formed a youth caucus to ensure
that youth have the opportunity of participating massively at
the conference, at the highest level possible, that their voice
is heard at the conference and issues affecting them are seri-
ously addressed by the global HIV/AIDS stakeholder community.
The Nigerian youths have been seriously involved in this process
and have been spearheading the course of things at the Youth
Caucus level. This declaration is therefore a practical demon-
stration of the Nigerian youths' commitment to the efforts to
bring to a halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and is intended at shar-
ing the Nigerian experience of youth participation and involve-
ment in HIV/AIDS and reproductive health policy making with
other youth globally and is a showcase the Nigerian youths' po-
tentials to make a difference.
Participants of the consultative sessions:
Observing:
That Youths are the most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection as a
result of; inadequate/ lack of access to correct information,
lack of good communication skills, inadequate parent- youth in-
teraction, poor state of education, inadequate reproductive
health services, early initiation to sexual activity society's
resistance to young people who speak frankly about sexuality and
risk taking on the part of youth;
That youth have over the years not been adequately represented
in the conceptualization, formation, implementation and evalua-
tion of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health policies;
That current programmes and prevention strategies do not ade-
quately address the needs and concerns of youth especially those
in the rural areas;
That youth have the right to know about and participate in the
formation of decisions that affect their own development;
That most communities do not have youth friendly centers/units
where youth can gain access to reproductive health information
and services;
That the 4th National Conference on AIDS and the 15th Interna-
tional Conference on AIDS serve as good media to articulate our
needs, express our concerns, showcase our activities, highlight
our future plans and advocate for support.
Endorsing:
* Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related
infectious diseases, 2001.
* The Dakar Youth Empowerment Strategy, 2001
* The WHO 3 *5 Initiative
* The UNGASS Declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS, 2001
Recommended as follows:
1. That measures be taken to ensure that youths participate at
the highest level possible in the design, implementation, and
evaluation of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health policies and pro-
grammes;
2. That the needs of youths, especially those in the rural ar-
eas, be met by reproductive health services and programmes,
through the establishment of youth friendly centres in community
health centres and counseling units in schools;
3. That Government and civil society should ensure that youths
are represented by youth themselves in NACA, SACA and LACA to
ensure that their needs and aspirations are adequately addressed
by the strategies that are developed;
4. That youth decide upon the kind of messages and language and
methods of dissemination of IEC materials that are focused on
youth populations;
5. That the rights of youth living with HIV/AIDS (YLHA's) and
those affected by HIV/AIDS should be protected and respected, to
ensure their effective participation in society's development;
6. That a policy mechanism which encourages adequate and prior-
ity funding to youth- led and youth focused projects and inter-
ventions be put in place to ensure that all worthwhile youth
initiatives are brought to the platform of delivery;
7. That an enabling environment be created for youth- led or-
ganizations to carry out their activities in the communities
where they exist by all stakeholders;
8. That realistic access should be created for youth at National
conferences and workshops to build their capacity for effective-
ness and progress.
Our commitment:
We resolve to ensure that we do not indulge in risk-behaviours
that will expose us to HIV/AIDS and other STI's.
We resolve to ensure that all youths who represent our interests
at various levels of policy making are well informed about our
needs and are able to articulate and justify them;
We resolve to form a formidable National Youth Network on
HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health to enhance partnerships, re-
source sharing and collective progress among youth led organisa-
tions;
We take it upon ourselves to ensure that youths in our immediate
constituencies of operation are well informed about the dangers
of HIV/AIDS and educate them how to take precautions;
We resolve to work together among ourselves as youth and with
our communities, institutions and government to develop and en-
sure the implementation of specific youth focused programmes and
projects;
We resolve to develop and publish IEC materials that convey the
language of youth and adequately inform the youth population;
We resolve to join hands with the government and civil society
to implement existing and emerging strategies to halt the spread
and impact of HIV/AIDS;
As Nigerian youth and stakeholders in the collective development
of our dear nation, we advocate for the support of the global
community to bring about the realization of our dreams of put-
ting to a halt the greatest threat ever to our development as a
population and as a nation;
We resolve to pursue the objectives of this declaration and of
ensuring youth participation and involvement through all worth-
while media until we are listened to and we are heard.
--
Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima, Esq.
Coordinator, Students Without Borders
http://www.teacherswithoutborders.org
Mobile: + 234-8055182526
PO Box 448 Woji 500007 Port Harcourt, Nigeria
mailto:postmaster@dabesaki.freeservers.com
http://www.dabesaki.freeservers.com