NIGERIAN YOUTH DECLARATION ON HIV/AIDS (DRAFT 01)
Introduction:
This youth declaration is an outcome of the National Youth HIV/AIDS
Consultative sessions held in Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt on the 21st,
23rd and 27th of April, 2004 respectively. Coordinated by youth- led
and youth serving organizations in each of the zones where it was held
the sessions witnessed the participation of (Final figures will be
tomorrow in PH) 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 seriously addressed by the global HIV/AIDS
stakeholder community. The Nigerian youth 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 demonstration of
the Nigerian youths’ commitment to the efforts to bring to a halt the
spread of HIV/AIDS and is intended at sharing the Nigerian experience of
youth participation and involvement in HIV/AIDS and reproductive health
policy making with other youth globally and is a showcase the Nigerian
youths’ potentials to make a difference.
Participants of the consultative sessions:
Taking into cognisance:
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 interaction, 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 evaluation of HIV/AIDS
and reproductive health policies;
That current programmes and prevention strategies do not adequately
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 centres/ units where
youth can gain access to reproductive health information and services;
That the 4th National Conference on AIDS serves as a good medium to
articulate our needs, express our concerns, showcase our activities,
highlight our future plans and advocate for support.
Endorsing:
· The Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related
Infectious Diseases.
· The Dakar Youth Empowerment Strategy
· The WHO 3 *5 Initiative
· The UNGASS Declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS
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 programmes;
2. That the needs of youths, especially those in the rural areas, 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 priority
funding to youth- led and youth focused projects and interventions 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 organizations
to carry out their activities in the communities where they exist by
all stakeholders;
8. That realistic access is created for youth at National conferences
and workshops to build their capacity for effectiveness and progress.
Our commitment:
1. 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;
2. We resolve to form a formidable National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS
and Reproductive Health to enhance partnerships, resource sharing and
collective progress among youth led organisations;
3. 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;
4. We resolve to work together among ourselves as youth and with our
communities, institutions and government to develop and ensure the
implementation of specific youth focused programmes and projects;
5. We resolve to develop and publish IEC materials that convey the
language of youth and adequately inform the youth population;
6. 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.
7. 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 putting to a halt the
greatest threat ever to our development as a population and as a nation.
8. We resolve to pursue the objectives of this declaration and of
ensuring youth participation and involvement through all worth while medium
until we are listened to and we are heard.
