YMCA Statement and Call to Action On HIV/AIDS

This statement came out of the YMCA's first global capacity building forum on HIV/AIDS in March 2004, Durban, South Africa

Statement

The World YMCA movement recognizes that HIV and AIDS is a serious pandemic affecting humanity in general and youth in particular, given that young people are the most vulnerable group in society. No society in the world is immune to the presence of HIV and AIDS and all are equally responsible for the escalating situation in many parts of the world.

It is becoming clear that HIV and AIDS is not simply a health issue, it is also a development issue. There is a strong correlation between societies with high HIV and AIDS prevalence rates and the development capacity of the country. There are nations where almost 40% of the workforce has been decimated by the pandemic. The high level of deaths among women is further destroying economic and family infrastructures. The YMCA believes that strategies to combat HIV and AIDS need to be integrated into our development approaches.

Poverty acts as a tremendous catalyst for the spread of HIV and AIDS, given the lack of access to education, health services, and economic livelihood. The prevalence of conflicts in many parts of the world has contributed to the rapid increase in rates, creating even more vulnerable groups and communities with even less access to basic services. The marginal situation of women in this pandemic is even more alarming, and their lack of power has made women suffer the most in all societies. Gender equality must be realized to stop the victimization of women.

The world YMCA movement fundamentally believes that people living with HIV and AIDS are entitled to full human rights, and must not be denied treatment, access to education, health, and work. They must also not be the subjects of stigma and discrimination.

Call to action

Therefore, the YMCA around the world hereby commits itself to:

• Intensify its commitment to the prevention of HIV and AIDS through education and current service programmes, focusing on peer education and working with adolescents and young people, within the family and community context;
• Implement programmes on care and support for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS;
• Address the specific situation of orphaned children and contribute to the creation of community support systems that include programmes and services and a caring environment;
• Work to eliminate stigma and discrimination in its communities, promoting the use of friendly language in every day communication and interaction;
• Ensure the involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS in every aspect of programme planning, execution and evaluation;
• Become recognized as an actor in advocacy at all levels, with a specific focus on the campaign for equal access to treatment;
• Initiate programmes that address gender equity and inequality;
• Continue to build a network (knowledge base creation, exchange of experience and model practices) amongst YMCAs working on HIV and AIDS, and intensify the use of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies);
• Share and network with other organizations dealing with HIV and AIDS, at the local, national and international levels;
• Promotes HIV and AIDS awareness in YMCA publications and resource materials;
• Strengthen the capacity of YMCAs to design and implement HIV and AIDS programmes.

For further information or support in implementing the above, please contact Carlos Sanvee at: office@ymca.int