On Sunday, I appeared in the Dutch Foreign Ministry/CHOICE’s Satellite Session, No Youth, No Change. The session aimed to explore issues of youth participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the importance of youth taking part in activist efforts internationally and at home. I was present to connect issues of HIV prevention with religion, especially in regards to the moral responsibility of youth in stopping the spread of HIV.
My personal experience with this issue was paramount – having grown up going to Catholic high school and university, I experienced first hand the shameful lack of sexual education and resources on campus. At Georgetown University – one of the top 25 universities in the country – condoms are still not permitted to be distributed on campus. Yet Georgetown continues to hold on high its message of “cura personalis” – education of the whole person. How can one educate the whole person without education on how to protect oneself or the resources to do so?
The session was a huge success, with several different interactive components and a lively question and answer session at the end. We learned that youth participation must occur on an organizational level, has the power to bring new perspectives and ideas, and, above all, is necessary for the continued fight against the HIV epidemic. It was an honor to participate!
Erin
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