ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

June 2007 update on new publications, actions you can take, and more!

Advocates for Youth's e-News Update

News You Can Use

New Report Assessing PEPFAR

Advocates for Youth released a groundbreaking new report, Improving U.S. Global AIDS Policy for Young People: Assessing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, that examines the limitations of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in preventing HIV and AIDS among youth in the targeted countries. Citing a lack of science-based practices, the report also calls on Congress to remove the 33 percent abstinence-only earmark, to prioritize HIV prevention grants to organizations with expertise in both HIV prevention and reproductive health care, and to require data collection using more precise age data.

"PEPFAR's 'one-size-fits-all' policy hinders individual country efforts to fight their epidemic," said Naina Dhingra, Advocates for Youth's Director of International Policy and the author of the report. "The Administration's ideological policies have left youth without the necessary tools to protect themselves from the pandemic."

In fact, a recent study by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication (CCP) found that not all young people clearly understood the ABC (abstinence, be faithful, use a condom) strategy. For example, a study of 100 youth, ages 15 to 25 in Namibia, found that the ABC terminology was not widespread. The youth believed that "abstinence meant 'to be absent" and that 'faithfulness' meant faith in a religious sense rather than being faithful to one's sexual partner."

To read the full report, please click here.

News of the Absurd

Tobias: You can't have it both ways...

Randall Tobias, Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, resigned after admitting to using a Washington, D.C. escort service under investigation for prostitution. Mr. Tobias, a married man, said he did not pay for sex but rather "had gals come over to the condo" to give him massages.

Formerly the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Tobias oversaw, and defended, policies such as the abstinence-until marriage restriction on HIV prevention funding in developing countries. In addition, in order to receive U.S. global AIDS funding, organizations, have to agree to a "prostitution pledge," which states that they will not in any way promote or support prostitution. Violating this pledge means loss of funding.

Read the article here: http://www.slate.com/id/2165259/

New At Advocates

Job Opening: International Policy Manager

Advocates for Youth is seeking applications for the International Policy Manager. The International Policy Manager promotes international policies that will improve adolescent access to comprehensive reproductive and sexual health information and services. The Manager acts as the organization's voice on these issues on Capitol Hill, the United Nations, foreign governments, and with colleague organizations. The Manager also develops policy and education materials for policy makers and the media.

To read the full description and to learn how to apply, please click here.

BLOG: Improving U.S. Global AIDS Policy for Young People

Naina Dhingra is Advocates for Youth's International Policy Director. She wrote the blog below, which was posted on RH Reality Check.

Last December, I traveled to South Africa and Kenya to get a handle on what programs funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) looked like on the ground. Specifically, I wanted to talk to youth themselves to get their perception of PEPFAR and to examine program responses to young people's needs.

To read the full blog, please click here.

Read All About It

New Publications at Advocates

The Facts: Adolescent Maternal Mortality: An Overlooked Crisis

Maternal mortality statistics underscore how societies have failed women, especially young women in developing countries. As many as 529,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy is the leading cause of death for young women ages 15 through 19.The reproductive health of adolescent women depends on biological, social, and economic factors. Programs must provide education, family planning services, and pre- and postnatal care to reduce morbidity and mortality among young women.

The Facts: Adolescents: Missing from Programs for the World's Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Worldwide, as many as 15 million children and youth have been orphaned or made vulnerable by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In addition, parental deaths from all causes have left 143 million orphaned children and youth across 93 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including 79 million ages 12 through 17. As orphans approach sexual and physical maturation, they are at increased risk of HIV. Their orphaned and vulnerable status can also leave them more vulnerable to sexual abuse, exploitation, illness, and homelessness. Many engage in risky sexual behaviors in order to survive.

Improving U.S. Global AIDS Policy for Young People: Assessing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

President George W. Bush introduced the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in January 2003. Responding, Congress passed the U.S. Leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act and authorized $15 billion for PEPFAR over five years. PEPFAR has made gains against HIV/AIDS, mostly by providing life-extending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the 15 focus countries and 100 plus other bilateral countries receiving its funds. Including young people - both infected and uninfected - as critical target groups is essential; yet, PEPFAR inadequately addresses the pandemic among youth.

Walk in My Shoes: A Black Activist's Guide to Surviving the Women's Movement

Walk in My Shoes is a collection of inspirational essays to empower young African American women to become involved in the fight for reproductive justice. Written by Marcela Howell, Advocates' Vice President of Communications, Walk in My Shoes draws on the author's 30-plus years of experience as a Black woman working in the reproductive rights movement. The essays examine the history of African American women in the women's rights movement and provide guidance for young African American activists on: avoiding the pitfalls of becoming the black "expert" in white women's organizations; knowing when and how to assert leadership; building a support base; and setting goals to diversify the movement to meet every woman's needs.

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