Young people as a percentage of total population:
24% (age 10-24)

RTK INITIATIVE STATUS
Phase I: Planning for RTK -- Completed
Phase II: Participatory Action Research -- Initiated; to be completed upon receipt of funding
Phase III: Research development and Implementation of Communication Strategy -- To be initiated 2003

PURPOSE
The primary goal of Right to Know is to plan and implement adolescent communication strategies that provide adolescents (both in school and out of school) with information and lifeskills for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and to ensure adolescent participation in all aspects of planning and implementation.

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES, 2002-2003:
Ensure that young people have:

• Adequate knowledge;
• Necessary lifeskills;
• Access to youth-friendly health services and school health education related to HIV;
• Support of political and social environments that place HIV prevention high on the agenda, that “Break the Silence” surrounding HIV/AIDS, and that address stigma and discrimination.

The focus is on young people, particularly those at high risk of HIV infection (including IDUs, sexually exploited adolescents, street children, MSM).

PARTNERS AND LINKAGES

• Steering Committee: UN Theme Group and UN Theme Technical Working group (comprised of WHO, UNDP, IOM, World Bank and local NGOs H.O.P.S, H.E.R.A, Trust, Macedonian red Cross and M.I.A)
• Institute for Ethnology as the collaborating research institution;
• Healthy Options Project Skopje (H.O.P.S) as the youth coordination group;
• Youth Action Committee comprised of over 15 youth NGOs such as Art Forum and Mesto.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE

• Regional Training; Belgrade; 26-28 April 2002;
• National Workshop on PAR; Ohrid 24-26 May 2002;

Ongoing workshops

• Theatre workshops; photography workshops with PhotoVoice; art; website; music for “edutainment.”

Young people are using these methods to learn how to best convey information on HIV/AIDS and to dissuade other young people from practising risky behaviours.

SOME OF THE EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

• Street Theatre performances on AIDS awareness;
• Photo exhibits around the country and publication with photos and narratives;
• Comic books with HIV messages;
• Website where young people receive information about HIV/AIDS
• Production of songs for “edutainment;”
• Television programme developed entirely by young people, which will begin production at the beginning of October and will be broadcast twice a week.

SOURCE:
UNICEF Right to Know Initiative, November 2002.