This summer, I attended the International Aids Conference and Ecumenical Preconference in Mexico City as a youth delegate from the Presbyterian Church in Canada. As a student of International Studies at York University's Glendon College, I have a particular interest in international human rights law and policy. And as a person who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 19 years, I am acutely aware of the difference in medical care between the developed and the developing world. For people who cannot access insulin, my condition often proves fatal within 12 months. But for those who receive adequate care, a long and relatively normal life is possible; the same is true for people infected with HIV.
When I arrived in Mexico, I was aware of the overwhelmingly bleak statistics surrounding the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide. An estimated 33 million people were living with HIV in 2007; an estimated 20 million people have died from the disease; and developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are heavily affected. Being aware of these numbers in the abstract can be overwhelming. It begs the question: “How can we possibly begin to find a solution to this enormous problem?” However, in meeting some of the individuals who are directly affected by and involved with the realities of HIV/AIDS, I became a little more hopeful.
Two presentations touched me most. One was by Keren, a young girl of about 13. She comes from Honduras, a country devastated by the HIV epidemic. She and both of her parents are HIV-positive, and she has become a passionate youth activist. Another of the presentations was a hip-hop performance by a group called Kormix from Cambodia. Kormix is a group of street youth – young people who are at increased risk for HIV infection because of intravenous drug use and sex work. Kormix members, while fighting for their rights, have also provided a safe place for all street youth regardless of their HIV status. These presentations showed me that activists come in all shapes and sizes, and the only requirement is to be passionate and committed (expertise is not necessary). They also emphasized the importance of youth in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Youth aged 15-24 account for 45 per cent of new infections globally, according to UNAIDS. This includes rising numbers in North America – a disturbing trend that needs to be addressed.
HIV is a medical condition and the contributions of nurses, doctors, scientists, researchers, and many other people are important for, among other things, treatment and the development of a vaccine or cure. However, we need to stop the spread of the virus. Even with improving treatment and access to care, there are millions of new HIV infections reported. In 2007, there were a reported 2.5 million new HIV infections around the world, amounting to more than 6,800 new infections a day (UNAIDS). HIV is spread through our most intimate contact with others. As a result, it has been stigmatized. It may be difficult, even uncomfortable sometimes, to discuss ways to prevent its spread – such as the use of condoms or needle exchange programs – but it's necessary to heal our world.
