The Commission on Population and Development

Rajini Sureka  Wijerupa is from the National Office  YWCA of Sri Lanka. Rajini is the World YWCA 2013 Short term intern advocating at the Commission on Population and Development 46^th Session in New York, USA.

Rajini Sureka

I work at the YWCA of Sri Lanka as a youth coordinator and the youth coordinator of our young women lead change project. I have been involved in the YWCA for the past 13 years and I have been inspired by the vision and the strategic frame work of the World YWCA which empowers the young women throughout the world, especially the excluded communities. YWCA of Sri Lanka shares the same vision and goals. As the youth coordinator of the association I would like to contribute to the implementation of strategies that empower young women within the YWCA in my country and the society outside the association. I have experience coordinating 160 youth of YWCA Association nationally including 72 youth of Peer Leaders.

I really want to extend my gratitude of thanks to the World YWCA office for giving me such amazing opportunity to be one of the short interns for this year this.The World YWCA has been at the forefront of young women’s empowerment, continually advocating for young women becoming leaders both within and outside the YWCA movement, building their confidence and encouraging peer training, mentoring and sharing of experience. Through internships, leadership training, dedicated space at the decision-making table; and opportunities to engage in global and regional advocacy, the World YWCA equips young women with the knowledge, skills and experience.

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has been a tremendous experience since it was my first time to attend CPD and also my first time to visit New York. As a group we are advocating for the following key priorities as identified in the Global World YWCA Strategy on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and which are complimentary to the key priorities identified in this year’s CPD session which focuses on migrants and their access to services.

These include:

• SRHR of young women and girls and HIV – Access to SRH services free of discrimination
• Comprehensive sexuality education, informal and formal for young women and girls
• Violence against women and peace with justice in relation to migrant, displaced young women and girls in conflict areas

This was a great experience for me that has developed my knowledge and understanding in the global context of SRHR. This will improve my future work on the SRHR Programme activities in the YWCA of Sri Lanka. I look forward to making a difference this week at the 46^th  Session of CPD.

I was a child bride; Mereso’s Story

By Mereso Kilusu, Special to CNN

Tanzanian Mereso Kilusu was a child bride . She found comfort and her purpose with the local YWCA. She is now an activist against child marriage

Nine of the 10 countries with the world’s highest rates of child marriage are in Africa: Niger, Chad and Central African Republic, Guinea, Mozambique, Mali, Burkina Faso and South Sudan, and Malawi.

My country, Tanzania, did not make the list. But in traditional Maasai communities like mine, marrying off girls is very common. I was married at 13 to a man in his 70s. It happened during Christmas break. My father told my school that I had died. Even if he hadn’t, I would have been forced to leave when I got pregnant because that was the law at the time.

I gave birth to my first child within a year. I had no professional prenatal care and no trained medical assistance during delivery. I had to depend on my husband and his other wives for guidance. It was a very painful experience. Every time I became pregnant after that I felt sick and scared. Because of all these difficult births I have a hard time controlling my bladder and it can be painful to urinate. Today I am a mother of five at 29 years old.

In communities like mine, age is not understood as a number. Our traditional values dictate girls are meant for marriage, and when the men decide we are biologically ready, we are married. Marriage is sometimes a way of forming and cementing relationships. But it is also a way of earning money. My family received a bride price from my husband and then he took me away to become one of his wives.

He beat me regularly, and so I fled back to my village. But my father and brother told me the price had been paid, this was no longer my home, I had to return. It wasn’t until six years ago that I was able to take charge of my own destiny. I ran away to the city of Arusha and met Rebecca, a volunteer with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). Through counseling, workshops and friendship, I gained more confidence in my own voice and learned to support myself.

When I returned to my village, I found an ally: one of our community leaders named Abraham. In his own extended family girls were running away from forced marriages. He felt obliged to support them by giving them shelter and food. Quietly, he was encouraging them to go to school hoping it would be a way to get girls out of their situation. When he learned about how I was able to find support from YWCA he was inspired. Knowing there would be places for girls to go outside their communities helped convince him they would be OK if they left their marriages. But I love my family and my community, and I didn’t want leaving to be the answer.

So I set up a YWCA in my village. And slowly, change is happening.

Some men and boys are not happy with what I’m doing. I have to be around others all the time to protect myself from harassment. I don’t know if my own father would approve if he were still alive. But many are recognizing that this is the way forward. That girls have value beyond marriage. That we can earn money and contribute more to our communities when we stay in school.

My brother used to think I was wrong to leave my husband. But seeing how well I am doing selling traditional Maasai jewelry and clothing he is starting to respect my choice. He no longer beats me, but he still won’t let me have access to any of my father’s farms. Thankfully I have supporters in my community who help give me other options to grow food for my children. I believe my relationship with my brother will get better with time. I am still working on it.

My mother is so proud. She used to fear my disobedience to my husband would reflect poorly on her and she would be cast out of the community. But now she sees I am welcome and respected and she is so happy to have me back in her life. When attitudes begin to shift from within communities this way, then people start to have hope. And politicians gain more courage to act. Without support from community leaders, parliamentarians fear passing laws will cost them votes and they will lose power to make any difference at all.

Likewise passing laws provides no guarantee girls will be protected unless they have community support: 158 countries have set the legal age for marriage at 18 years but the laws are simply ignored by communities where marrying children and adolescent girls is common practice. In the fight against child marriage, the biggest battle is finding those who are ready for change and giving them the courage to speak to others.

Those of us who believe in the power of girls, who have seen what they can do when they have options, we need to tell everyone we can.

Editor’s note: Tanzanian Mereso Kilusu was a child bride and is now an activist against child marriage. Her story was translated by LoeRose Mbise, of YWCA Tanzania, and edited by Marlee Wasser, of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.

Les droits et la santé sexuels et reproductifs et le VIH en Afrique francophone

Par Falolou F. Lucrèce, membre de la YWCA du Bénin

L’atelier régional des YWCA francophones d’Afrique qui s’est déroulé au Bénin du 15 au 17 novembre 2012 sur le thème des droits et de la santé sexuels et reproductif (DSSR) et le VIH chez les jeunes femmes a été un excellent moment d’échanges, de partage de connaissances et des meilleures pratiques. L’atelier a réuni des membres des YWCA du Bénin, du Burkina Faso, du Cameroun, de la République Démocratique du Congo, du Mali et du Togo. Etait présente également Hendrica Okondo, du bureau mondial de la YWCA et Directrice mondiale des programmes relatifs aux DSSR et VIH. Au cours de cet atelier, le point de la situation de la santé sexuelle et reproductive dans la région a été posé et des orientations futures ont été définies. De plus, la rencontre a permis d’apprécier un certain nombre d’avancées dans le domaine de la santé de la reproduction et ce à travers le développement de projets mettant l’accent notamment sur le renforcement des services de santé sexuelle et reproductifs,  l’accroissement de l’accès aux services de maternité (incluant la lutte contre les fistule obstétricales qui reste un fléau dans de nombreux pays d’Afrique, la gratuité de la césarienne) sans risque et de survie de l’enfant .

Les participantes ont identifié un certain nombre d’obstacles qui retardent l’atteinte des objectifs visés par ces différents projets. Les deux plus importants sont la forte croissance démographique et ses conséquences sociales et la faible productivité économique. A travers nos échanges, nous avons également remarqué que trois domaines d’activités contribuent grandement à la  réduction de la mortalité maternelle. Il s’agit des domaines :

• de la planification familiale ;
• des soins obstétricaux néonatals d’urgence ;
• de l’accouchement assisté par un personnel qualifié.

Il ressort de ce qui précède que les pays africains représentés dans ces ateliers ont fourni des efforts dans l’avancement des droits et de la santé sexuels et reproductifs chez les jeunes. Et pourtant, « les indicateurs de santé sont peu reluisants et stagnent depuis plusieurs décennies », comme le souligne Hendrica Okondo. Au Bénin par exemple, selon la dernière enquête démographique de la santé (EDS, 2006) le ratio de la mortalité maternelle est de 397 pour 100.000 naissances (selon les derniers chiffres de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, le ratio de mortalité maternelle dans les pays en développement est en moyenne de 240 pour 100 000 naissances, contre 16 pour 100 000 dans les pays développés) ; la mortalité néonatale (cela correspond aux quatre premières semaines suivant la naissance) est de 32 pour 1000 naissances et la mortalité infanto-juvénile (avant l’âge de cinq ans)  est de 125 pour 1000 naissances. Quant au pourcentage de femmes/partenaires sexuels qui utilisent toute forme de contraception, il a régressé et est passée de 7,1% en 2001 à 6,2% en 2006.

De plus, l’âge des premiers rapports sexuels est de 15 ans maximum chez les adolescents et jeunes de 10 à 24 ans (13,2% des filles contre 12,9% des garçons) ; nous sommes confrontées ici au problème des mariages précoces et/ou forcés qui se soldent par des grossesses non désirées avec complications et un faible accès à l’information et aux services de planification familiale. Face à ce tableau peu brillant, la santé sexuelle et reproductive chez les jeunes femmes est menacée avec pour cause principale la mortalité suite à des complications liées à la grossesse et à l’accouchement ou encore au VIH et SIDA.

Des défis restent à relever, et en tant que membre de la YWCA, nous devons redoubler d’effort pour inverser la tendance. Des solutions ont été avancées et comprennent la promotion en matière des droits et de la santé sexuels et reproductifs dans le programme scolaire, ceci incluant l’éducation sexuelle ;  l’encouragement auprès des autorités nationales à mettre en place des fonds nécessaires pour le développement de la santé de la reproduction incluant une bonne gouvernance de ces fonds ; la lutte contre la déscolarisation des filles, le développement du leadership des jeunes femmes ; un meilleur accès à  des services de santé qui permettent aux femmes de mener à bien leur grossesse et leur accouchement.

La santé n’est pas seulement le privilège du ministère de la santé

Par  Merveille Dedji de la YWCA de Bénin

La 5eme conférence africaine portant sur les droits et la santé sexuels et reproductifs tenue à Windhoek en Namibie a tenté de passer en revue la situation des jeunes et leur rapport au VIH et SIDA et à la santé sexuelle et reproductive, notamment en Afrique. Le rôle des gouvernements a aussi été discuté. La conférence a le mérite d’avoir fait ressortir de nombreuses approches qu’il faudrait initier dans les pays africains afin de se rapprocher de l’objectif zéro nouvelle infection et une bonne santé reproductive pour toutes.

Merveille Dedji

Parmi les discussions engagées, les conférenciers ont évoqué le problème de l’avortement clandestin et ont plaidé pour un accès sécurisé à ce service. Dans les faits, il est à noter que le manque d’opportunités et la pauvreté amènent de nombreuses jeunes filles à devenir des travailleuses de sexe. La possibilité pour elles de se protéger d’une grossesse non désirée est difficile et pourtant plus que nécessaire. En conséquence, ces jeunes femmes choisissent de se faire avorter et parce que les services sont manquants, elles mettent en danger leur vie en se retrouvant à avorter clandestinement. Beaucoup en meurent. Le ministère de la Santé doit prendre ses dispositions parce que beaucoup d’avortements clandestins se pratiquent encore. La question des travailleuses de sexe soulève un autre problème : doivent-elles encore être considérées comme des criminelles ? La question des droits humains se pose.

Cette conférence a le mérite de se poser de bonnes questions sur les droits et la santé sexuels et reproductifs des jeunes africaines et nous pourrions lancer un ouf de soulagement en voyant que le sujet est discuté, les faiblesses du système social pris en compte et des solutions proposées.  L’Afrique vient de faire un pas.

Cependant, s’il est agréable d’avoir à sa disposition des solutions, la question de leur réalisation demeure ; les moyens financiers mis à sa disposition restent maigres. De plus, notons que si des dirigeants africains ratifient des conventions, ils sont encore loin d’encourager leur application et d’investir pour une Afrique meilleure. Oui, nous pouvons avoir une Afrique meilleure à condition que, tous, nous mettions la main à la pâte.

AIDS 2012: From darkness to light

As the International AIDS Conference 2012 concluded last week. Two YWCA delegates share their reflections:

By MARIA ZIWENGE from the YWCA of Zimbabwe

Maria Ziwenge

I was very excited when I received an invitation to attend the AIDS International Conference. I was offered an opportunity to talk about my experience at the Inter-faith pre-conference. The issue of presenting as a keynote speaker was the only thing making me a little bit scared! I would get nervous every moment I thought about it. I left Gweru on Sunday after my son was discharged from the hospital so I had to travel during the night. My flight was on Tuesday so I left Zimbabwe on Tuesday for the conference. What a long journey it was, I had to travel for 15 hours! I got to Washington and started polishing my presentation. The day of presenting came and I had to speak. I woke up early in the morning started to prepare at 4am. We waited for a shuttle to take us to the place but it took a long time so I had to walk with Monica Simon and Kuena Diaho. As for these two it was a long way but for me I didn’t recognise the distance, all I wanted was to get to the place and speak. We reached the place and printed my presentation then my two friends’ hand me over to the organisers.

I was trembling with fear when I had to meet and shake hands with respected people of higher classes than mine. The time came we went to the stage and when it was time for introductions I stood up and rushed to the microphone to speak but then Rabbi held my hand and said, ‘No it’s not yet time for you to speak’. I couldn’t carry the shame I put myself into but I pulled myself together. All the first speakers spoke very well especially Rabbi so I started asking myself the question if I was going to be able to present my speech in the way others do theirs. But God helped me and I spoke very well as it was one of the comments I received from the audience. When I finished the whole room clapped for me and I felt something like a stone rolling from my heart. TO TELL THE TRUTH I WILL NEVER FOGET THIS MOMENTING TIME.

By Haidy Sidky Riad from the YWCA of Egypt

From darkness to light

Keep me promise

Stop HIV

All of these titles aim to one goal – fight HIV and stop it!

First I am happy to be here as it is the first time for me to be outside of my country and to attend this International AIDS conference. It is a truly great opportunity. Local and national leaders participating have spoke about people living with HIV from all over the world. UNAIDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Michel Sidibe spoke of the 22 years of fighting HIV. He highlighted the urgent need to continue providing funding for HIV treatment and prevention. UN SECRETARY GENERAL, Ban Ki. Moon, said that we will continue to support and promote health, dignity and justice. SECREATRY OF THE UNITED STATES, Hillary Clinton vowed to promote human rights and called for unity in the global response to HIV. All of these leaders called for a greater response to HIV.

Haidy Sidky Riad

I believe that when we work together we will destroy and fight HIV with our collective efforts and we will eradicate it. We should ask ourselves why did my mother die with it? Why was child born with it? Now we need to affirm that we will live without HIV, mothers will live without it and children will be born without it. Everything is possible, you can be anyone, you can love, you can dream all the day never reaching the end of everything that is possible for you.

Let there be zero new HIV infections all over the world.

The Need for Young Women to Learn the Basic Science of HIV

By Marian Okondo World YWCA volunteer at AIDS 2012

Often when HIV and AIDS issues are raised we always think of the social, behavioral and economical science topics: What policies are being implemented, what are the behavioral risk factors and so on. Very rarely is the basic science of HIV and AIDS addressed particularly when it involves the education of young women and men with no basic science background. When I planned on joining the World YWCA delegates as a volunteer at XIX International 2012 AIDS Conference, there was an expectation that all the talks would be centered on social and behavioral science. This however was not the case, there were many sessions that discussed the basic science of the HIV virus, including but not limited to its genetics, pathogenesis, reservoirs and the ongoing research that is currently taking place around the world.

However technical the sessions may have been I realized the importance of learning this area of the HIV endemic. Many times you find people living with HIV, some HIV health care providers and the care givers lacking the basic knowledge of the disease.  They are unable to understand the test results and treatment, the side effect of the medications they take to treat physiological and metabolic diseases with the Anti-viral drugs (ARVs) they are on, they lack knowledge on how to prevent STI infections and co-infections (one of the complications of the disease that may even result in death if not treated) and also lack an understanding of the ongoing research on the use of microbicides in HIV prevention. It can therefore not be stressed enough that we need to provide education on basic science.  Basic knowledge such as, etiology of the virus and how it causes disease is one way to educate young women and men with no science background.

We can empower young women and men living with HIV and AIDS by giving them the resources to learn about their treatment: Why they are given the 3 dose minimum, why they have been administered the particular drugs they are taking and what are the modes of prevention they can follow to prevent co-infections.  They also need to be educated on what they are doing to their bodies when they fail to adhere to treatment, many times the individual already has low self esteem and is in a state of hopelessness; where they feel that there will be no difference if they take the medicines or not, failing to realise what effect it could have on them. Basic science would be able to give a good explanation to the individual and most likely provide the shock value needed to push the individuals to adhere to treatment.

It is also important for the public to know the scientific advances that may help in prevention of HIV and AIDS and improve the lives of people living with HIV. For example not a lot of young women and men understand the need of genotyping. They do not realise that with genotyping they will gain information of their susceptibility to different diseases including HIV and AIDS. Those living with HIV and AIDS will understand why they are not able to take certain medication. This will allow the public to demand access to necessary biomedical techniques and tests from their governments and health care providers.

It is clear that basic science knowledge on the HIV virus is more than necessary.  It allows for better understanding of treatment and prevention. The World YWCA needs to lobby for young women and men living with HIV and AIDS to have access to education on their treatment and their disease. It will empower them to be better involved in their treatment and care regimens.

AIDS 2012: Discriminado en la abogacía de la No-Discriminación

By Marjorie H. Cordero, from the YWCA of Chile

Marjorie H. Cordero

Como es sabido el VIH-SIDA  es una de las temáticas que suele discriminar a quienes contraen la enfermedad, de la misma forma que se discrimina por ser una persona pobre, de color y/o indígena, por no estar escolarizado o por no entender o hablar un idioma, en fin de muchas… siendo justamente esta última la que me inspiró a elaborar esta reflexión. Estando sentada cerca del final de la sala, en una de las de las sesiones de la XIX Conferencia Internacional de SIDA, Washington 2012, necesite de la ayuda de una de las chicas de la YWCA para que me tradujera, y una mujer que se encontraba sentada en la fila de adelante nos comentó en inglés “no puedo escuchar, me molesta el ruido que hacen”) ante lo cual yo no pude responder porque no hablo inglés). Sentí bastante impotencia por ello, porque creo que esa pequeña sustitución refleja, como en muchas oportunidades notros/as no estamos atentos respecto de cómo nuestros actos pueden afectar a las personas que tenemos al lado.

Me resultó paradójico pensar por lo tanto, que se hablará durante la exposición de discriminación y yo misma me hubiese sentido de esa forma; porque se han puesto a pensar qué el discriminar no es otra cosa que, no pensar en el otro/a- y cuando digo esto me estoy refiriendo en todos nuestros actos cotidianos, por que pareciera que somos buenos para dar discursos enérgicos sobre como queremos cambiar o mejorar la vida de otras mujeres (en nuestro caso como organización) pero cuánto realmente lo ponemos en práctica? Creemos que porque damos unos pocos pesos a una causa o damos un poco de tiempo y/o energía en un proyecto basta para cambiar la situación que estamos viviendo, yo creo que no. Con esas acciones no basta, todo seguirá exactamente igual, nos reuniremos quizás en unos cuantos años más y con un poco más de avance tecnológico seguiremos hablando de lo que deberíamos hacer. Yo, les propongo y me propongo que el primer cambio empiece por cada una de nosotras, que nos volquemos a nosotras para observarnos, analizarnos y cuestionarnos en cada uno de nuestros actos, tanto para consigo misma como hacia los otros, yo creo que estos son elementos esenciales para lograr mejorar el tipo de relaciones sociales que tenemos. Sumado claro,  a otros cambios estructurales…pero esos análisis lo dejo para otra ocasión.

English Version translated by  Mandy Nogarede, World YWCA Staff

As is well known, HIV and AIDS is the only illness that results in discrimination of the person who contracts the disease in the same way that someone poor, coloured or indigenous, or with no education or who does not understand well, or who speaks a different language, etc. is discriminated against. It is exactly this last point that inspired me to write this blog. Sitting at the back of the room during one of the sessions of the XIX International Conference on AIDS, Washington 2012, I need the help of one of the young women from the YWCA to translate for me. A woman sitting in the row in front said to us in English ‘ I cannot hear what they are saying due to the noise you are making’ (I could not reply because I do not speak English). I felt quite powerless and I believe that this little incident demonstrates that often we are not careful to respect how our acts can affect those who are marginalised. Paradoxically this resulted in me thinking therefore, that I would have felt the same about someone who was talking during the exposition on discrimination; discrimination is nothing else than not to think of the other person’s situation, and when I say this I am referring to all our daily acts. It seems we are good at giving rousing speeches on how we wish to change and improve the lives of other women (in our case as an organisation) but when can we really do this? We believe that because we give a bit of money to a cause or give a bit of our time or energy to a project that we can change the situation that we are experiencing, but I don’t think so. These actions are not enough, everything will continue just the same, we will meet maybe for a few more years and there will be some technological improvements and we will continue to talk of what we must do. However, I propose to you all and to myself that the first change starts with each one of us, that we begin with ourselves, that we observe ourselves and analyse and question each of our actions, equally in relation to ourselves and to others, I believe that this is essential in order to achieve improved social interaction. Let us be clear, other changes are needed, but these I will deal with another time.

Pushing the Barriers: AIDS 2012

As the 19th International Conference on AIDS continues, two MORE inspiring young women from the YWCA share their reflections:

 Hannah Yurkovich’s World YWCA Intern from Kent University, USA

Hannah Yurkovich

I have been excited to be involved in the 19^th Biannual International AIDS conference in Washington DC, but before arriving here, I did not know what I expected to see. Since arriving, I have not been at all disappointed, and my first thoughts after entering the Convention Centre with the other 21,000 delegates, was that people here were by far very passionate about ending AIDS. Many of those attending are HIV positive, and not hesitant to hide their status, something I have never observed before. I am certain that this will be a unique and valuable experience for me, and that I will learn a lot about one of the world’s most real and widespread issues.

I have been fortunate enough to have never personally known anyone who has been affected by the AIDS pandemic. Yet from the very first session that I attended, it struck me how many people’s lives had been changed directly and indirectly. That which had been a secret not to be disclosed even to one’s closest friends and family was now being shared through detailed personal stories by many of the speakers. One particular example that stuck out to me was the presentation on body maps that one young HIV positive woman shared with us. The traumatic and unspeakable suffering that many of the marginalized women experienced, who were HIV positive, who had gone through physical, sexual and psychological violence or who were transgender, was drawn in graphic images highlighting their physical and psychological wounds. This was a perfect example of how a diverse community can find security in opening up, when one individual chooses to share what is vital in standing up for one’s human rights. Even though I was encouraged to hear that action was taken in utilizing such exercises, in presenting evidence of gender based violence to the government, it was saddening to hear how the justice system and the police played a part in the oppression that this marginal population went through.

The opening ceremony could be summarised in a message of hope. Each speaker represented a different cultural group with a different connection to the AIDS movement. But there was optimism in the air, reminders of the successes that science had achieved through history, and promises to support the fight to free the next generation of the pandemic.  I look forward to hearing more success stories as well as supportive reliable statistics in how progress is being made in ending mother to child transmission of the virus, ending social prejudices, making treatment prevention, and turning this former death sentence into a condition that enables people to lead long and comfortable lives.

 Dana Awwad from YWCA of Palestine 

Dana Awwad

First and for most, I am grateful and thankful for the YWCA for providing me with this opportunity of attending the 19th International AIDS Conference. It is a great pleasure to be here and to experience what I am currently experiencing. I have been to a number of conferences before, but this time the experience is different. I am attending this conference as a health care advocate being part of the YWCA of Palestine and not as a scientist. The information I am seeking is not the same, not experimental designs nor scientific data, but approaches, solutions, and success stories. However, after the Interfaith Pre-Conference I realised the difficulties that health advocates and HIV patients are still facing in their community.  Unfortunately, science has come a long way and has produced impeccable solutions while humans still have a long way to go. I was devastated to learn that women are still undermined and unfairly treated in many if not most parts of the world. Women are still violated, women are still raped, women are still forced to work as prostitutes, and children are still born to live a dark future. I don’t want this to happen to my family, friends, and people. AIDS is not a serious issue in Palestine, but there are many vulnerable and risk groups and their numbers are on the rise. There are many factors affecting the health and lifestyles of Palestinians, and I hope we act now to save our future before the danger is out of hands. On the bright side, I heard many success stories.

I learnt that since 2009 in the capital of the Unites States of America, Washington DC, no one child has been born HIV positive! I have heard the promises and commitments of the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, when she declared the commitment of the Obama Administration towards HIV and AIDS. The United States will grant millions of dollars to science and research and the health sector. Finally, in a special meeting with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, the YWCA delegates learnt that they are not the only women advocating for women’s health and rights. Representative Schakowsky is one of the advocates for the International Violence against Woman Act (IVAW). I am in my second day of the conference and I am positive that there is still more to learn and more to be inspired by.

 

 

Faith Inspired Sexuality

By Rebecca Phwitiko, World YWCA Board Member

Rebecca as part of the World YWCA delegation to AIDS 2012 in Washington, DC shares her reflections on faith and sexuality:

In one of my favourite books on HIV and AIDS, ’28 stories of AIDS in Africa’ Stephanie Nolen says the reason why HIV and AIDS still remains a challenge is that its transmission preys on our most intimate moments. And so sitting in the workshop on young people sexuality and faith in the context of HIV during the Interfaith Pre-Conference on HIV, I felt the truth of these words.

Rebecca Phwitiko

A research by John Blevins of the Rollins School of Public Health (Emory University) finds that religion does not feed into the sexual values and activities of most young people. This I didn’t find surprising at all. But then what I found to be amazing was that there are still a lot of young people out there asking critical questions about their faith as it relates to sexuality, what does it mean that Solomon had many wives for instance?

So in my mind this is a vital opening for the faith community. There is a great need among young for more open conversations with their faith leaders about their sexuality, particularly in the context of HIV. Even in the most conservative communities, HIV has taken sex and all that comes with it to the public space. There is no longer the luxury of saying what I do with my partner, how I protect myself is a taboo subject. Sometimes these uncomfortable conversations can ‘postpone’ a new risk of exposure to HIV.

We live in an age where 61 percent of all new HIV infections are among young women, particularly in Africa. Religious entities are uniquely positioned to respond to HIV because they are pervasive and dynamic.

Churches, mosques, traditional religions, are at the heart of African society. Faith organisations need to understand the powerful entity that they can be in addressing public health issues such as the sexual and reproductive health of young women.

It is a great injustice when young women are denied their rights to sexuality education and services. And who can better champion the rights of a marginalized group, our young women, than the people that teach us about compassion, love and peace. Unfortunately the faith community has had difficulties in addressing sexuality in HIV prevention, reproductive health, family planning, and women’s empowerment. Religion has often been a barrier, and efforts to mobilise religion as a positive force for addressing these issues need to be strengthened. It is time to overcome injustices and ensure that AIDS responses improve the lives of women and girls.

The Collective Voice of our Generation: AIDS 2012

As the 19th International Conference on AIDS continues two inspiring young women from the YWCA share their reflections:

Jenna Lodge from YWCA USA 

Jenna Lodge

For the last 2 days, the young women of the World Delegation have heard presentations from world-renowned speakers, top HIV/AIDS research analysts and victorious individuals thriving with HIV.  Their statements are profound and their testimonies were filled with courage and hope.  But what stands out the most was an impromptu conversation had by six young women taking a rest between sessions.  In our reflections of the different speakers, we all had a common desire to want the conversations and presentations to “go there.” it seemed as if the speaker’s words carried a hint of “fluff” instead of getting to the real, hard-pressed issues that we all longed to hear about.  In that moment of honesty amongst the six of us, we all vowed to take a stand throughout the week and ask questions that “go there.” The 25 million women and girls that we represent around the world demand more than a rosy façade of an issue that deserves real solutions for treatment, overall support for individuals that identify as positive, and prevention strategies for communities around the world.

As the delegation moves toward the opening of the 19th International AIDS conference, we must remember to address the concerns of young women and girls that we present around the world.  We must remember to create an atmosphere of acceptance over stigma and a keen sense of curiosity and learning over judgment.  We will stand in solidarity in sessions and workshops to make our collective voice be heard.  By the end of the conference, our goal is for all 21,000 participants to remember the confident young women leaders of the World YWCA that stood up and asked the hard questions and got real answers and solutions for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.

Marcie Martinez from the YWCA of Belize

Being able to represent World YWCA and YWCA Belize at AIDS 2012 is a great privilege. Since the time I have reach Washington I have been overwhelmed with all that has been happening. The conference is an international conference that is hosting thousands of delegates from around the world. Therefore the opportunity to meet and network is great. On Friday the 20^thof July we started to participate in sessions that highlighted the work that is being done all over the world in regards to HIV. I believe that many people are really doing great work in the fight against HIV. However, I do believe that we all are missing something in this fight because the numbers for new infections are still very high. There is still so much to be done, even in my country. Everyday having been in Washington, I am learning that HIV is affecting humanity everywhere but at the end of the day we are working in unity to tackle HIV.

Marcie Martinez

Also, meeting and being able to work with the other YWCA delegates has made being able to participate in AIDS 2012 much manageable. I am very impressed with the YWCA delegation because they are dynamic leaders who are very passionate about making change in their communities. I have been enjoying my days getting to know these amazing women. We have been participating in marches and attending sessions that are highlighting the issues that have been arising around HIV. We also had the opportunity to meet Congresswoman Jen Schakowsky who represents the district of Illinois. She is an amazing woman who is passionate about women’s right. We were all excited about sitting with her and sharing what the different countries in the YWCA delegation are doing in the area of HIV.

Great things happening in Washington right now!