Chiang Mai, Thailand

On April 24 2008 UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) will host: Meeting the HIV Prevention Needs of Young People in Asia: The Need for an Integrated Approach in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Background

In contrast to the situation in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region has so far seen mainly concentrated HIV epidemics, driven by three key behaviors:

• unsafe injecting drug use,
• unsafe male to male sex, and
• unsafe sex in the context of sex work.

Generalised epidemics, where large numbers of the 'general population' have been affected, have largely been prevented. Nevertheless, HIV prevalence among those engaging in the high risk behaviours listed above is on the rise in several countries, and there are indications that young people are more and more at risk. Efforts to educate youth aboutHIV have diminished in some countries, and in others prevention education was never a big priority, so that HIV is currently not seen as a serious health problem by adolescents. In some countries there are clear indications that HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevalence among teenagers are on the rise.

Despite the fact that Thailand and Cambodia are often hailed as successes in the field of HIV prevention, the role of the education sector in this success has been surprisingly limited, focusing mainly on moralistic and abstinence messages (Don't-education). With internet dating on the rise, sexual norms and values among youth changing rapidly, and some evidence that the age of sexual debut has been dropping in recent years, there is an urgent need to find a way to openly discuss with young people about HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, as well as drug use, male to male sex and sex work. Because the curriculum is full, teachers and education resources are stretched, and cultural barriers are considerable, it is proposed HIV should be integrated into broader educational programs and activities, including life skills, school health and nutrition and reproductive health education.

This symposium aims to generate a discussion on how to do this in the context of Asian cultures and societies, and what role the education sector and schools can or should play.

Program of Events

Session 1: Framing the Discussion - the Epidemic and the Need for an Integrated Approach
Session 2: Keynote Speech: Teachers and sex education - uneasy bedfellows?
Session 3: Examples of integrated approaches to providing HIV/reproductive health education through the education sector
Session 4: Reflections on the Way Forward

Registration

IATT members do not need to register for the symposium in advance. For non-IATT members: please register before April 19 2008 by submitting your name and e-mail address, telephone number and organizationalaffiliation to Ms Marisa Suankhwamdee at UNESCO Bangkok by email at s.marisa@unescobkk.org or by phone her at 02-3910577, ext 117. Please note: a maximum of 60 non-IATT members can attend.

For further information, please contact Mr Jan W de Lind van Wijngaarden at UNESCO Bangkok,by email at j.wijngaarden@unescobkk.org or by phone 66-23910577 ext 113.