On International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on 8 March every year, Yosweri Museveni, President of Uganda, affirmed his commitment to empower women in the work place and in the domestic sphere. At an International Women’s Day celebration in Mityana District, in the Central Region of Uganda, President Museveni outlined the action taken by government to promote women in the civil service, including the army, police and in Parliament. Government is also currently developing legislation to promote the rights of women in the home.

During the event the President, in the presence of UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, launched the Presidential Fast-Track Situation Room, a data visualisation platform which draws from multiple sources to provide real-time data for monitoring the implementation of the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative to End AIDS in Uganda by 2030. The initiative is a multi-sectoral effort to consolidate progress on key areas of HIV prevention revitalize HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

In a special ceremony, the President awarded Mr Sidibé the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa, the highest civilian award of the Ugandan Honours System, in recognition of Mr Sidibé’s contribution to the global AIDS response and his continued support to the Government of Uganda and its partners.

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A new index to measure levels of homophobia that can show the impact that homophobia has on countries has been developed.

Homophobia—defined here as any negative attitude, belief or action towards people of differing sexual orientation or gender identity—has long been known to affect public health. Gay men and other men who have sex with men who face stigma are more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviours, are less likely to adhere to antiretroviral therapy and have lower HIV testing rates. Knowledge of levels of homophobia, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is scant, however.

The new index, published in the European Journal of Public Health, combines both data on institutional homophobia, such as laws, and social homophobia—relations between people and groups of people. Data for the index were taken from a wide range of sources, including from the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. More than 460 000 people were asked questions on their reactions to homosexuality through regionwide surveys that were also used as sources for the index.

The Homophobic Climate Index gives estimates for 158 countries. Western Europe was found to be the most inclusive region, followed by Latin America. Africa and the Middle East were the regions with the most homophobic countries, with the exceptions of South Africa and Cabo Verde, which were among the top 10 most inclusive low- and middle-income countries. Among low- and middle-income countries, Colombia was the most inclusive, and Sweden was the most inclusive of all countries.

From comparing the results of the index with other data, the researchers found that countries with higher levels of homophobia were the same countries that face higher levels of gender inequality, human rights abuses, low health expenditures and low life satisfaction. Increases in a country’s Homophobic Climate Index were found to be associated with a loss of male life expectancy and a lower economic output.

The index therefore shows the damaging effects that homophobia has on the lives and well-being of everyone in a county, not just gay men and other men who have sex with men. “This index provides communities with sound data that can help them in their advocacy for more inclusive societies,” said Erik Lamontagne, Senior Economist Adviser at UNAIDS.

With knowledge of the harmful effects of homophobia, countries will be in a much better position to respond to it and improve the lives of all.

During the Global Partnership for Education meeting on 2 February, hosted by Senegal and France, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé discussed the importance of education and health. “Integrating education and health is key for our success in controlling the epidemic among young people. Without effective, quality and sustainable health and education systems we are failing young people”, Mr Sidibé said. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

The First Lady of Senegal, Marieme Faye Sall, and the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, inaugurate a cardio-paediatric centre that provides surgical treatment for children affected by cardiologic diseases. The centre, funded by the Cuomo Foundation in Monaco, supports women and children in Senegal. Credit: UNAIDS.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV is crucial, as is community involvement, stressed Mr Sidibé during his meeting with Ms Sall. The western and central Africa region lags behind in access to treatment and prevention, which is why UNAIDS and partners launched a western and central Africa catch-up plan. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

Mr Sidibé also met with the Minister of Health and Social Action of Senegal, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, stressing that no matter who you are or where you are from, everyone has the right to health, the right to an education, the right to equal opportunities and the right to thrive. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

The Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Michaëlle Jean, will raise the issue of counterfeit medicines at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

Minister of International Development of Norway, Nikolai Astrup, and Mr Sidibé met on the sidelines of the meeting. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

Mr Sidibé, along with the Ambassador of Luxembourg, Nicole Bintner. Luxembourg has been an active participant and donor in the western and central Africa catch-up plan. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

Good health enables a girl to thrive, to grow, to think, to explore and to contribute to her community. Knowledge of how to stay healthy and access to quality health services enable her to prevent illness, to eat well, to manage her sexual health, to have healthy babies when and if she chooses to and to nurture her own well-being. Education and health are two of the most transformative elements of a girl’s life. Credit: UNAIDS/B. Deméocq.

On the eve of Zero Discrimination Day on 1 March, more than 890 000 viewers joined the online platform OK.ru/test to discuss zero discrimination and join the launch of the UNAIDS regional #YouAreNotAlone campaign. The discussion was live-streamed on Odnoklassniki, the leading Russian-language social media platform for countries across eastern Europe and central Asia.

The #YouAreNotAlone campaign is raising awareness about the stigma and discrimination faced by children, adolescents and families affected by HIV in eastern Europe and central Asia. The campaign features young Russian artists who each retell the personal story of an adolescent living with HIV in the Russian Federation. Most adolescents in eastern Europe and central Asia still face stigma and discrimination that prevents them from being open about their HIV status.

The broadcast also featured an interactive online film, It’s Complicated. Based on the lives of adolescents and young people living with HIV in the Russian Federation, the film tells the story of Katya, a Russian girl born with HIV who faces stigma and discrimination but also finds love and support as she grows up and adjusts to life with HIV. Some of the film’s crew and lead actors joined UNAIDS and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization staff in the OK.ru discussion.

“The goal of the #YouAreNotAlone campaign is to promote solidarity with children, adolescents and families affected by HIV in eastern Europe and central Asia for them to live with safety and dignity,” said Vinay P. Saldana, Director for the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The campaign has been promoted through social media by Vera Brezhneva, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Victoria Lopyreva, UNAIDS Ambassador for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and others. Everyone is encouraged to support the campaign by posting a photo on social medial with the hashtag #тыНЕодинок (#YouAreNotAlone).

“These young people are inspiring and strong,” said Ms Brezhneva. “Something is very wrong with a society where the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV are not respected. Every person living with HIV should feel our support, #YouARENotAlone!”

The campaign was also launched in Armenia, where it was supported by actors, television presenters and others. Armen Aghajanov is the first person living with HIV in Armenia who publicly disclosed his HIV status during the launch of the #YouAreNotAlone campaign on Zero Discrimination Day. He said: “People are not dying from HIV, they die from discrimination, late diagnosis, lack of access to treatment or from not taking medicines.”

Close to 10 years after its first edition, a fully updated International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education published today by UNESCO advocates quality comprehensive sexuality education to promote health and well-being, respect for human rights and gender equality, and empowers children and young people to lead healthy, safe and productive lives.

“Based on the latest scientific evidence, the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education reaffirms the position of sexuality education within a framework of human rights and gender equality,” says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. “It promotes structured learning about sexuality and relationships in a manner that is positive and centred on the best interest of the young person. By outlining the essential components of effective sexuality education programmes, the Guidance enables national authorities to design comprehensive curricula that will have a positive impact on young people’s health and well-being.”

The Technical Guidance is designed to assist education policy makers in all countries design accurate and age-appropriate curricula for children and young people aged 5 – 18+.

Based on a review of the current status of sexuality education around the world and drawing on best practices in the various regions, the Guidance notably demonstrates that sexuality education:

•  helps young people become more responsible in their attitude and behaviour regarding sexual and reproductive health
• is essential to combat the school dropout of girls due to early or forced marriage, teenage pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health issues
• is necessary because in some parts of the world, two out of three girls reported having no idea of what was happening to them when they began menstruating and pregnancy and childbirth complications are the second cause of death among 15 to 19-year olds
• does not increase sexual activity, sexual risk-taking behaviour, or STI/HIV infection rates. It also presents evidence showing that abstinence-only programmes fail to prevent early sexual initiation, or reduce the frequency of sex and number of partners among the young.

 The publication identifies an urgent need for quality comprehensive sexuality education to:

• provide information and guidance to young people about the transition from childhood to adulthood and the physical, social and emotional challenges they face.
• tackle the challenges posed by sexual and reproductive health issues, which are particularly difficult during puberty, including access to contraception, early pregnancy, gender-based violence, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV and AIDS
• raise awareness of HIV prevention and transmission, of which only 34 per cent of young people around the world can demonstrate accurate knowledge
• complement or counter the large body of material of variable quality that young people find on the internet, and help them face increasingly common instances of cyberbullying.

The Guidance was produced in collaboration with UNAIDS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Suhaila Msham Mwarimwana is 19 years old and lives in Zanzibar City. She was born with HIV and lost both parents before she was nine. But, despite the difficulties she faces, she is an inspiration for other adolescents and children living with HIV. 

“When I was about 12, I overheard neighbours saying I was HIV-positive. So I asked my oldest sister and she told me I had a bone-related disease,” she says. “But I sensed this was not the truth, so after some time I insisted and she took me to the Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS and I discovered my HIV status.”

Ms Msham Mwarimwana says her first thought was for her youngest brother, who also tested HIV-positive. She felt hopeless and desperate. “I thought HIV was a death sentence,” she says.

At a Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (ZAPHA+) children’s club, Ms Msham Mwarimwana was given information and advice on how to live positively with HIV. She started HIV treatment and has stuck to the regime since, despite a lack of adequate nutrition, which she says makes adherence difficult.

After she finished secondary school she began volunteering for ZAPHA+. She facilitates clubs for children and adolescents. “We exchange ideas, share our challenges and advise one another,” she says. Her only wish is that the club had more space and was able to provide refreshments, particularly for the younger children. “We stay there and talk for a long time!” she says.

She is also a member of the Young Reporter Network, a national consortium of community-based children’s radio projects that reaches millions of listeners. She and other young reporters produce a 30-minute programme each fortnight, using audio diaries, commentaries and interviews to share their stories.

Ms Msham Mwarimwana has big dreams and plans to study journalism. She is proud of her contribution to the AIDS response in her country. “My role towards getting to zero—zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths—is to get my story heard to confront stigma and discrimination and draw attention to community issues that affect children and youth,” she says.

Looking back, Ms Msham Mwarimwana says she would have liked her parents to tell her she was HIV-positive. She says it is very important for children to know their HIV status. “I could have started my treatment even earlier,” she says. “Parents of HIV-positive children need to educate society that HIV can affect anyone and there is no shame.”

She believes that AIDS-related illnesses are a leading cause of death among adolescents in eastern and southern Africa because many adolescents are unaware of their HIV status and do not know that there are life-saving treatment and support structures available to them. “ZAPHA+ is my second home,” she says. “I am so thankful for the support I have received there.”

She has a simple message for her peers. “Accept and be open about your HIV status, be confident and believe in yourself.” 

UNAIDS has been supporting ZAPHA+ since its establishment through financial and technical support. UNAIDS supports the ZAPHA+ Secretariat to coordinate its activities in the 10 district clusters to ensure meaningful participation of ZAPHA+ in the development, implementation and review of the United Nations Joint HIV Plan in Zanzibar. UNAIDS also supports its resource mobilization efforts. Other United Nations agencies are closely engaged, in particular the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The young people spilled out of the bus, happy to have reached Côte d’Ivoire. Not only could they stretch their legs following the last leg of their journey, but they had arrived at their final destination, the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). The Youth Caravan had started with 10 young people in Nigeria, followed by 10 more joining in Benin and a further two stops in Togo and Ghana.

Along the three-day, 1000 km, trip more than 40 young people shared their stories and experiences and talked about HIV, stigma and empowerment of young people in cities along their route.

One of the participants, Jefferson Kudolo from Ghana, couldn’t believe how fun the trip was, despite the distance, “The travelling brought us closer together and we forgot the kilometres,” he said. Another participant, Dayo Sunday from Nigeria, agreed. He loved connecting with people with similar tales from other countries.

Each day, the Youth Caravan led or attended an event, which included screenings of HIV-related films, meeting the First Lady of Benin, debates and an international dance competition.

Mr Sunday said music and dancing not only got the group to unwind, it allowed them to interact with other young people along the way. A peer educator at the Nigerian Teens and Kids nongovernmental organization, he said, “Dancing is one of the best tools to attract people who may be too shy to come to HIV-related events.”

“I know what works, and music definitely works,” Mr Kudolo said, explaining how he and the other participants of the Youth Caravan would distribute condoms and lots of practical advice at the venues. UNAIDS and partners started recruiting participants for the Youth Caravan nearly a year ago.

Kodo Ngabane, UNAIDS Youth and Social Organization Officer for the western and central African region, beamed with pride as the bus pulled into Abidjan. “We constantly say that young people need to be involved, and here is a clear example of doing just that,” he said. “We listened to them and they were in the driver's seat.” Without missing a beat, he added, “Figuratively, not actually driving the bus.”

Eric Gunn, accompanying youth participants from an association of girls in Togo, Action de Soutien au Developpement et l’Education de la Jeune Fille, said he was touched to see such enthusiasm. “A real esprit de corps took hold regardless of country, language, gender, sexual orientation,” he said. “Even us elders joined in the fun and were bombarded with questions.”

The Youth Caravan was welcomed at the ICASA Community Village by the Côte d’Ivoire Minister of Health, Raymonde Goudou-Coffie, King Oyo from Uganda, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and others.

After a standing ovation and lengthy clapping for the participants, Mr Sidibé addressed the crowd. “We count on you! You are not the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today,” he said. “We will not end AIDS without young people.”

Young sex workers, transgender people, lesbian women, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and people living with HIV from across Africa came together on 2 and 3 December for a preconference meeting ahead of the 19th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), being held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 4 to 9 December.

The meeting, entitled Onto the African Map: Youth Key Populations and HIV, was a way for young people to express the challenges that they face, from a lack of opportunities to discrimination and social and legal injustices.

Those barriers make young members of key populations particularly vulnerable to HIV, violence, harassment and a lack of hope. Despite these challenges, attention to the protection of human rights and to the health needs of key populations remains limited in national HIV responses.

The meeting reviewed those challenges and identified key areas of action and recommendations that were compiled in the joint declaration adopted at the meeting. The declaration calls, among other things, for urgent action to stop violence, harassment and other human rights violations towards young people and key populations. It further calls for the participation of young key populations in health, policy and other decision that affect them and stresses the need to increase programmes and investments for services that address the needs of young key populations.

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