Youth Appeal for Removal of Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
During the recently held Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Week (October 17-23), youth from across the Region appealed for the removal of systematic barriers that hinder progress in accessing sexual and reproductive health care and education.
The barriers identified included unequal societal gender norms and expectations, exclusion and socio-economic disparity. During the “Voices of Caribbean Youth” discussion, Ms Cindy Andrews, Deputy CARICOM Youth Ambassador, stated that the barriers to sexual reproductive health and rights significantly affect young people’s quality of life and limit their access to opportunities and resources. These resources include education, access to safe sex health care and information on safe sex practices.
Ms Andrews appealed to regional policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize increasing the development and enforcement of policies to provide a holistic approach to reducing adolescent pregnancies.
The video below highlights critical messages from Ms Andrews and other youth who participated in Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Week.
In addition, youth were invited to submit dramatic poems to highlight the urgent need to prioritize policies for improved access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Click below to view.
Sophia (Poem) By Brandon Singh
WHAT IS PANCAP?
PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, and coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilise resources and build the capacity of partners.
What are the Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026 targets and commitments?
If targets and commitments in the strategy are achieved:
- The number of people who newly acquire HIV will decrease from 1.7 million in 2019 to less than 370 000 by 2025
- The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses will decrease from 690 000 in 2019 to less than 250 000 in 2025.
- The goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children will see the number of new HIV infections drop from 150,000 in 2019 to less than 22,000 in 2025.
What are the 95-95-95 Targets for ending AIDS?
- 95% of People Living with HIV know their HIV status;
- 95% of people who know their status on treatment; and
- 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026, End Inequalities, End AIDS
https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/global-aids-strategy-2021-2026-end-inequalities-end-aids/
Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2019-2025
https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework-2019-2025/