SAT & GYCA host youth think-tank meeting

SAT in collaboration with the Global Youth Coalition on AIDS (GYCA) are jointly hosting a two-day workshop - 25-26 October 2011. More than 30 youths from across the SADC region are participating in this workshop.

The workshop is to review international and regional declarations, commitments and evidence on the nature of programming on youth issues and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH&R) as a first step to establishing a regional think-tank on youth, HIV and SRH&R.

GYCA is a global youth initiative that promotes a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS programming. It provides spaces for members to work directly with their governments and the United Nations to create and influence HIV and AIDS national and international policies and programmes that affect young people. Their work is focused on three main areas: Capacity-building and technical assistance; Networking and sharing of good practices; and Political Advocacy to create meaningful youth-adult partnerships. For SAT and GYCA, sexual and reproductive health and rights must be integrated with HIV/AIDS interventions if responses to the epidemic are to be more effective.

SAT is well positioned to and will support young people and especially their access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in a drive for renewed HIV prevention efforts.