Noticias

According to regional reports, in Latin America exist approximately 175,000 young people living with HIV, of which a lot are unaware of their HIV status. In 2012, it was estimated that 31,000 new infections occurred in young people between 15 and 24 years. About 70% of Latin American countries do not have strategies to address youth in a comprehensive way.

These results and statistics were discussed at the 3rd Meeting of Young People Living with HIV in Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean, where Carlos Sanchez participated in representation of the Diversa Network. At the same time, Adolfo Ruiz, representing SOMOSGAY, participated in the Youth Meeting of Key Populations. These activities were conducted in the Brazilian city of Salvador de Bahía, from 27 to 29 of November, where over 80 young people from 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean met.

Several UN agencies such as UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNICEF, as well as the Ministry of Health of the State of Bahia, provided support to the meeting, based on the aim of gathering and training leaders in the region to build a framework for mobilization, collaboration and action, including political prominence and innovative strategies that contribute to strengthening the social response to the epidemic in LAC.

At the meeting, participants also discussed the approval of the strategic plan to be implemented, along with the objectives and activities that the Network will be undertaking, in addition to the election of coordinators of each region and the creation of working groups.

Barbie Martinez, representative of the Network of YPLWH in Ecuador stated that “this Network is the first network of young people living with HIV in Latin America. The highest rate of infections are in our countries, and we must join efforts to involve young people in decision-making spaces in the response to HIV".

SOMOSGAY thanks the Network of YPLWH of Latin America and the Caribbean for the space allowed to generate integration and knowledge-transfer to the participants, especially since this allows to replicate the information and conviction in our communities to improve the quality of life for everyone and ensuring a world free of stigma and discrimination.

Photo Credits: Oliver Kornblihtt (Mídia NINJA)