Road Map to ICASA

The biggest AIDS conference in Africa, ICASA 2017,  is taking place from the 4th to the 9th December, 2017 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Under the theme “Africa: Ending AIDS-delivering differently”. 

RIATT-ESA in partnership with Save the Children and REPSSI are co-hosting a Youth Networking Stand at the community village, booth number 11. RIATT-ESA partners are bringing together youth from 8 different eastern and southern African countries to attend the conference, lead discussions around key issues and for capacity building of these young advocates. 

Click here to download a roadmap of children and youth at the 19th ICASA in Abidjan. This road map highlights some of the the youth discussions that will take place "the Youth Stand" ,

RIATT-ESA Conference Report on the 19th Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA)

From the 4th to the 9th of December 2017 RIATT-ESA programme staff, seven partners and youth advocates travelled to Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire to attend the 19th International Conference On AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), under the theme Africa: Ending AIDS-Delivering Differently. The conference was attended by more than 7000 delegates.

During the ICASA conference RIATT-ESA co-hosted a youth stand in the Community Village; Supported two young people to participate in the conference as part of their skills building as youth advocates; Co-presented a poster presentation with REPSSI on the effects of bereavement on the psychosocial well-being of HIV positive, orphaned children; and Reviewed abstracts for the track: Law, Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science.

Key Highlights

RIATT-ESA, REPSSI and Save the Children International co-hosted the youth networking stand that was managed by 13 young delegates aged between 18 and 25 years, from 8 African countries including: Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Cote D’Ivoire. Each young delegate brought a set of key messages to share with peers and other conference attendants. Their discussions focused on themes such as:

• SRH rights education
• Resource allocation for SRH services
• Youth access to SRH services
• Cultural messages to boys during circumcision
• The role of peer education in reducing the spread of HIV
• Sexual abuse and HIV transmission
• Ending sexual about and violence against girls
• Ending discrimination, disclosure and navigating relationships for YPLHIV

The RIATT-ESA Youth Advocates Programme

At the ICASA conference RIATT-ESA started a pilot project to develop the advocacy skills of youth by supporting two young advocates to attend the conference. Xolani Magongo aged 22 years from Swaziland focused on advocacy on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people living with HIV and Faudhia Kitenge, 25 years old, from Tanzania focused on advocacy on young people living with disabilities.

The youth presented their advocacy message at the youth stand, hosted discussion with their peers, did radio and video interviews and participated in dialogues and conference sessions. In a report back from the youth they highlighted what was learned and what they could do to use this information back at home.  

Xolani, a young paramedic plans to revitalise his support group for youth living with HIV by hosting debates and video talk shows. Faudhia, a Bachelor of Social Work student will develop her abstract writing and presentation skills.

Putting Children First event calls for action to tackle child poverty

Despite important strides in the fight against poverty over the past two decades, child poverty remains widespread and persistent. A three-day international conference from 23rd to the 25th of October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aims to engage policy makers, practitioners and researchers in identifying solutions for fighting child poverty and inequality in Africa, and inspiring action towards change. More detailed information about the themes, key questions to be considered and the conference objectives can be found in the conference concept note: Putting Children First - Concept note.pdf

Call to Action: The conference will conclude with a commitment to action towards fighting child poverty and inequality in Africa. Action steps will be summarised in a Call for Action. To give feedback on the draft Call for Action email Richard Morgan, Co-Chair of the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty: r.morgan@savethechildren.org.uk. 

Putting Children First - Communique for consultation.pdf

For more information click here, or follow and contribute to the conference debate on Twitter by using #PuttingChildrenFirst.

UNICEF and PATA webinar series from the PATA 2017 Continental Summit

From the 23rd to the 25th October 2017, UNICEF and PATA are hosting a webinar series to share presentations from the PATA 2017 Continental Summit. These presentations will include plenary presentations and country-led solutions to identifying, treating and caring for children and adolescents living with HIV and affected by HIV.

The links to the webinar are below:
October 23rd  9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 24th  9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 25th  8.30-9.30am EST and 2.30-3.30pm JHB

For more information contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org

Highlights from the Children and Youth Pre-Psychosocial Support Forum, 2017

RIATT-ESA partnered with REPSSI to co-host the Children and Youth Forum 2-3 September 2017, ahead of the Psychosocial Support Forum. The pre-conference brought together more than 80 young delegates between the ages of 12 and 25 years, from 13 eastern and southern African countries including: Tanzania, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Most of the delegates were students but among them were former child brides, student leaders, peer educators, junior journalists, community mobilisers, and living with HIV and disabilities.

Youth Discussions

The youth delegates discussed through facilitated dialogues and presentations their observations, experiences, perspectives and ideas on key development issues. Guest of honour Jake Glaser brought a strong message of courage in fighting stigma related to HIV, calling on the youth to not let their circumstances or heath define who they are. True to form, the youth asked some very personal questions! The messages empowered the youth to use the opportunity to take action by calling governments and civil society to support and protect children in Africa.

Click here to watch Jake’s Key note address to the youth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njz-2TwYerk

Some Issues identified by the youth as needing urgent attention include:

• Difficulties encountered by teenagers who become pregnant in being re-admitted and staying in school to complete their studies
• Violence against children, especially rape of girls
• Family and cultural pressures on girls to marry young
• Income opportunities for former child brides so they can support themselves and their children
• The challenges of growing up with HIV including treatment adherence and dating
• Pressures on young boys to make incomes to support their families at the expense of their education
• The increasing use of drugs among in and out of school boys
• The broadening of the formal school curriculum to include music and sport as career options
• Tokenism versus meaningful participation of young people in policy and programme development

Social Media

Harnessing the power of social media for advocacy was a key theme at the pre-conference. After going through a capacity building session the youth submitted a blogs which will be shared through the RIATT-ESA website until an independent platform can be set up. Partners will be invited to link and further disseminate them. The blogs will be judged by an independent panel and two winners will be awarded a tablet which will go a long way to support their advocacy efforts.

Follow @RIATTESA on twitter for updates and highlights posted during the Children and Youth Forum. 

RIATT-ESA deeply appreciates the support of its partners, without whom this event would not have succeeded. A special thank you to Jake Glaser and his team from EGPAF, and Deborah Ewing and her team at the AIDS Foundation of South Africa