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Document date:  1.03.2004

World YWCA

YMCA global capacity-building forum on HIV/AIDS
Strategic framework for a global YMCA action plan on HIV/AIDS 

Durban, South Africa. March 2004 

Vision

Empowered youth and communities working together to mobilize resources for delivering sustainable, community-based, gender-sensitive, youth-focussed, Christian-value based HIV and Aids programmes.  

Priorities

  • Community-based programmes delivering on education, prevention, community support, economic self-sufficiency, home-based care, counselling and testing, and life skills.

  • Advocacy focusing on treatment, children and orphans, stigma and discrimination, the right to information, education, health services and employment, and gender equality.

  • Promotion of gender equality in programmes, training, and leadership that address the power relations between the sexes.

  • Resource mobilisation strategies to support the delivery of HIV and AIDS programmes at the local level

  • Empowerment of youth as the key development actors in the delivery of the YMCA mission and as leaders within the YMCA movement.

  • Development of a knowledge management system that promotes exchange and effective networking.  

Approaches

  • Participation at all levels of the movement, especially at the national level. Movements in areas with high prevalence of HIV and AIDS will have as their primary role most of the priorities identified above. YMCA movements not experiencing similar rates can and should contribute to the overall vision through resource mobilisation and advocacy;

  • Development of policies on HIV and AIDS in YMCA work places, youth policies, and gender policies;

  • Enhancing the networking and exchange between and amongst YMCA movements; between Area Organisations; between YMCAs and churches; and with other organisations involved in the struggle against HIV and AIDS;

  • Promotion of theological reflection as a means to strengthen our identity in working with those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS;

  • Development of an international logo and slogan that identifies the YMCA with the struggle against HIV and AIDS;

  • Establishment of a systematic mechanism to collect and disseminate information and experiences on YMCA work on HIV and AIDS;

World YMCA
YMCA global capacity-building forum on HIV/AIDS
YMCA movement statement on HIV/AIDS 

Durban, South Africa. March 2004 

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 all our societies. No society in the world has been 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. In all societies with high HIV and AIDS prevalence rates, there is a strong correlation with the development capacity of the country. There are nations in which almost 40% of the workforce has been decimated by the pandemic. The high level of deaths among women is acting to further destroy the 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. 

As a youth organisation, the YMCA recognizes that young people are key actors in development, and their active involvement is sine qua non in the efforts to halt and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS. 

Therefore, the YMCA around the world herby 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 recognised 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 organisations dealing with HIV and AIDS, at the local, national and international levels;

  • Promotes HIV and AIDS awareness in YMCA publications and resource materials;

  • Ground in the capacity building of YMCAs ability to design and implement HIV and AIDS programmes.

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