Mr Kevin Mendez from Belize was elected Chair and Ms Alexus D’Marco from The Bahamas was elected Vice Chair of the PANCAP Steering Committee on Youth Advocacy.

Kevin Mendez is the President of the Belize Youth Empowerment for Change, Ministry of Health and a HIV/TB Adherence Counselor.  Alexus D’Marco is the Director of the DMARCO Organization.  She is a Bahamian transgender and human rights defender.  She is also an advocate for marginalized groups and national issues advocate for LGBT.

The election was conducted during the second meeting of the PANCAP Steering Committee on Youth Advocacy.

Other committee members include Mr Lucien D. Govaard, Representative, Caribbean Forum for Liberation & Acceptance of Gender & Sexualities (CariFLAGS), Ms. O’Cindy Cynthia Samuels, Representative, Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC), Mr. André Browne, Dean CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Corp., Ms Renatta Langlais, Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV (CRN+), Ms Cedriann Martin,  UNAIDS Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, Mr Dennis Anthony Glasgow,  Youth Coordinator, Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association, Mr. Sheldon Terrance Henry,  CARICOM Youth Ambassador and Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Raymoniya Lawrence, Programme Assistant, Equality for All Foundation, Ms Terisa Camille Thompson, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and Mr. Salorne McDonald, CEO of Jabulous.

The meeting was also supported by Director of PANCAP, Mr Dereck Springer and PANCAP Youth Advisor, Mr Astel Collins.

The Director of PANCAP discussed PANCAP’s focus on youth through its Global Fund project. He explained that the project included the development of the Youth Advocacy Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, the establishment of the Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the Framework and the support required by youth leaders during the project. He highlighted that youth leaders will be trained in advocacy, selected youth will be facilitated to engage in high-level advocacy and two annual meetings will be convened. These meetings will be planned and facilitated by youth for youth.

PANCAP congratulates the new Chair, Vice Chair and committee members and expresses gratitude for their dedication.

Visit the PANCAP Youth web page here.