National Youth Shadow Reports
In 2001, governments committed to reducing the impact of HIV on young people with specific targets in the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, the targets are far from being met. Specifically, governments committed "(Paragraph 53) By 2005, ensure that at least 90 per cent, and by 2010 at least 95 per cent of young men and women aged 15 to 24 have access to the information, education [and services]." Currently, less than 50% of young people worldwide know how to protect themselves from HIV, and even less young women.
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) has produced 18 countries' youth shadow reports for UNGASS 2005 and 2006. 12 of the reports were compiled into a publication, which GYCA co-authored with Global Youth Partners, published by UNFPA. To read the report, "Our Voice, Our Future: Young People Report on Progress Made on the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS" and country shadow reports, click here.
Join us in the fight for accountability by writing a report on your country's progress for youth on HIV/AIDS. Click here to read Country-Level Youth Research Guide and simplified Community Level version to assist in the writing of youth shadow reports.
The Country Level guide looks at 5 areas that are important to achieving universal access for young people by 2010:
- Political Commitment
- Financial Commitment
- Access to Services
- Level of Youth Participation
- Research and Data Collection
GYCA staff will be available to assist you with your research and report writing. You should plan on forming a national team of young
people who can assist with research, interviews and writing, formed of youth as well as adults, as much as possible. GYCA, as a network, welcomes the participation of young people from a variety of other organisations and networks in this important process.
Your findings will be posted on an AIDS wiki site called Youth Challenge AIDS. UNFPA has produced country findings on this topic that
will be shared with you if you write a report. Reports that are well researched and written, with accurate citations, will be sent directly
to country delegations, permanent missions, and disseminated widely.
TIMELINE for reports:
First Draft Due: 30 March 2008
Feedback from GYCA to authors: 15 April 2008
Final Draft Due: 15 May 2008
We are seeking reports of approximately 5-8 pages. GYCA is unable to endorse reports that do not include citations. It is still worth writing a report even if you can't make it in time for UNGASS, as we will continue to highlight Accountability to Youth at the Mexico AIDS Conference and beyond!!! After reading the guides, if you are interested in writing a report, or have further questions please email joya@youthaidscoalition.org