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Start the Fire!
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Ruckus2004! Spring/Summer 2004
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HIV AIDS
HIV AIDS
Editorial It is important for youth of Canada and all over the world to educate themselves on the subject and to ally with those fighting the disease and working to put a stop to it. Art by Rani Yeung
by Chris Sanchez HERE AT THE YOUTH ACTION NETWORK WE ARE DEDICATED to the education and involvement of youth in social, political, and environmental issues. This Forum is dedicated to a subject that is correlated with all those issues: AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is plaguing the earth all over and not enough is being done to lower new infections. There are many factors leading to the lack of funding towards AIDS education and research and that is the unfortunate fact that most people finding themselves with the disease are also marginalized in society. At first it was seen as a “gay” disease when it initially killed thousands of gay men in Europe and North America during the 80’s. Now it is ravaging Africa with some countries, such as Botswana, reporting that 1/5 of the population are HIV positive or have AIDS. Also, the largest growing group of newly infected people are women in their prime, in other words, young women. Most of these women are marginalized again as they are more commonly working class or women of colour. Since AIDS is seen as something only being transmitted in Africa, or by injection drug users, or by gays, many youth who don’t fall into these categories see themselves as immune to the deadly disease. Not enough precaution is being taken, especially to those who do not have access to education or condoms. This is an unfortunate fact and this mentality of in2
vincibility has led to the earlier point of young women being targeted by the disease. AIDS has also turned into a business with companies making millions on selling drugs to help HIV positive people live longer. More money is being used to research into new drugs instead of actually finding a cure. American companies have even patented certain drugs to aide those with HIV and will not allow other foreign companies to use the drug unless they pay ridiculous amounts for them. AIDS is an epidemic in every sense of the word. It is killing millions each year and is not taken seriously enough. It is important for youth of Canada and all over the world to educate themselves on the subject and to ally with those fighting the disease and working to put a stop to it. AIDS affects us all, not just certain minority groups, and the people at the Youth Action Network and at the Forum feel passionately about educating youth on this horrible global disease. Please read as much up on AIDS as you can and feel free to contact us at the Forum with responses and ideas about any of the articles. On behalf of everybody at Youth Action Network and at the Forum we thank you for taking an interest and we hope you gain some insight from reading these articles. Chris Sanchez is a member of the Youth Action Network Board of Directors and Forum. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
FORUM notes Thanks for reading FORUM magazine! This page is reserved for the projects and events involving Youth Action Network. If you would like to get involved, please contact us. Submissions to Forum can be sent directly to the office at 176 John Street, Suite 307, Toronto Ontario, M5T 1X5 e-mail us at forum@youthactionnetwork.org; visit our website at www.youthactionnetwork.org fax us at (416) 368-8354; phone us at (416) 368-2277 or toll-free at 1-800-718-LINK Youth Action Network Board of Directors Youth Action Network invites anyone interested in making an impact to apply to become a member of the YAN board of directors. YAN also encourages young people outside of Ontario to apply to be a regional director. See page 7 for more information about becoming a Board member or regional director.
Youth Action Network Merit Award Youth Action Network (YAN) has established a fund to award young people who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their communities at large. We received many outstanding applications for 2003, but could only have one winner. Congrats to Nicole Ghanie! You can read an article by Nicole in this issue of Forum. For information about applying for the 2004 YAN Merit Award, please contact the YAN office.
Ruckus! Ruckus! is YAN’s anti-racism conference and will be happening again in the fall of 2004. Check out pages 32 and 33 for pictures and a summary of Ruckus 2003. Contact us for information about the event and how to register, and if you would like to be involved!
Fire it up! ...is the Youth Action manual -- a compilation of resources that are essential for youth to take action. It is available free for download in PDF format from our website at www.youthactionnetwork.org. You can also order hard copies of the manual ($5 each) -- just contact our office! For a sample of the great material included in Fire It Up!, we have included a condensed excerpt of the second section of the manual. Check out Start the Fire! on pages 36 & 37. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
FORUM Submissions FORUM invites all youth across Canada to submit articles, rants, poetry, or artwork to Youth Action FORUM at the above address/email/fax. Contact us if you want to bounce ideas off our editors.
Bilingual FORUM Youth Action FORUM constantly seeks to ensure that we are fulfilling our mandate of being a medium through which young people from all over Canada can express their views, concerns, and opinions. Because of financial considerations, a decision was made in the past to discontinue the use of French translators. We are now making an effort to return to a fully bilingual publication. Youth Action FORUM depends on volunteers to be published, and we need you to participate. We need volunteers to translate material as well as Francophone writers in order to obtain our goal of bilingualism. If you are interested, please get in touch with us at the coordinates above.
Volunteer! Youth Action FORUM is run fully by volunteers. We need people to write, edit, create artwork, design layout, translate articles, develop a website (see below), raise funds and more! Contact our office for more information about YAN (or visit the website) and the opportunities for volunteering with Forum or other exciting YAN projects.
Forum online FORUM seeks to be as accessible as possible and we are in the midst of overhauling our website. Our vision is to create an online space that complements and supplements the print version of the magazine. It will include multimedia elements and most importantly, be interactive, allowing our readers to share their thoughts, opinions and ideas on the issues covered in FORUM. 3
FORUM
Y OUTH A CTION
Action Jeunesse
Forum Features
Editors-in-Chief Tia Dafnos Alysia W. Zhou
The Alpha and Omega of art Clifford Gnitecki 34-35
Editing Crew Norma Goh, Adrienne Lee, James Kwok, Jason Leung, Chris Sanchez, Helen Tsang Cover Art Adrienne Lee Layout & Design Tia Dafnos Translation Dwain Richardson Contributors Jennifer Chisholm, Freddy Cna, Kristy Evans, Nicole Ghanie, Clifford Gnitecki, James Kwok, Nikki Kumar, Karen Lau, Adrienne Lee, Jenny Lee, Jason Leung, Uitsile Ndlovu, Nidhi Punyarthi, Chris Sanchez, Helen Tsang, Rani Yeung Special Thanks Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention Project (GAAP)
Submission guidelines Share your articles, artwork, photographs, poetry, and letters. All original art and photographs will be returned. Articles should be accompanied by art or photographs, as well as some very brief information about the author. Send your submissions to “FORUM Submissions” at YOUTH ACTION NETWORK.
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Start the fire... The second installment of Fire It Up! 36-37
Youth Action Network Board of Directors
Youth Action Network 176 John Street, Suite 307, Toronto Ontario, Canada M5T 1X5 telephone 416.368.2277 fax 416.368.8354 emailgeneral@youthactionnetwork.org charitable registration 136303195RR0001 ISSN 1188-6870
Advisory Board Soni Dasomapathra Angely Pacis Derik Tam
Chair Tia Dafnos Finance Directors Karen Lau Van Hout, Richard Lee Secretary Alysha W. Zhou Program Coordinator Outreach Director Michelle Dagnino Cameron Barker Organizational Development Projects Coordinator James Kwok Paul Lykotrafitis Forum Liaison Chris Sanchez Communications Directors Special Thanks Sam Chow, Norman Goh Don & Mary Lucy McGregor Equity Director Jae-Yeon Lim (Delta Bingo) Fundraising Director Gina Lee
YOUTH ACTION NETWORK is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing to youth the resources and information they need to take action on issues important to them. Views and opinions expressed in YOUTH ACTION FORUM are not necessarily those of its editors nor of the Board of Directors of YOUTH A CTION NETWORK . Every effort will be made to preserve the content and style of all submissions to FORUM. However, the editors reserve the right to edit articles for clarity or length.
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
special section HIV and AIDS AIDS Patients vs. AIDS Patents Nicole Ghanie 10-12 About GAAP... Uitsile Ndlovu 13 HIV/AIDS and youth... Freddy Cna 14-16 First fall into GAAP Jenny Lee 16 Gendering HIV/AIDS Education Nikki Kumar 17-20 “Store in a cool dry place” Nidhi Punyarthi 21 Violence against women and HIV/AIDS Jennifer Chisholm 23-24 Young women and HIV/AIDS Kristy Evans 25-27 FORUM Guide to AIDS organizations and resources 28-31 Map: $pending on AIDS 39 Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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Resource ActionCentre is your first stop for action. The RAC is an extensive resource library which aims to promote constructive, informed action by providing information that represents and helps Canada’s diverse youth to achieve their goals.
1-800-718-LINK 416-368-2277
RAC’s toll free number is accessible across Canada. Call or e-mail us with your request and we will call you back and fax or mail you the information you require. A project of Youth Action Network
Fire It Up!
is the title of the Youth Action Manual, a comprehensive toolkit for youth action!
Hard copies are available for purchase, please contact YAN for more information. The complete manual is also available free for download at WWW.YOUTHACTIONNETWORK.ORG
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Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Join the Youth Action Network Board of Directors! or Become a Regional Director As a youth-for-youth organization, YAN maintains a Toronto-based youth (under 25) Board of Directors to make decisions on things like overall direction of the organization, programming, and finances. Moreover, and perhaps unlike many other Boards, YAN’s Board is quite active in even many of the day-to-day logistical aspects of running the office, providing direction on the decision-making that would otherwise rest solely with the staff. The Board meets about once a month in person, and more time-sensitive matters are dealt with over email or on the phone. In every circumstance, the Board generally aims to reach consensus when making decisions. Board Members are nominated for two-year terms and each is responsible for a specific portfolio for that term. In addition, many Board Members often take leadership on particular projects with the Forum magazine being the most notable example of this. Being on the Board of YAN is definitely fun! You will learn new skills, meet lots of cool, interesting, active youth, and best of all, you will be making a difference in your community. Anyone can join the board, no experience is necessary! Equity-seeking youth, Aboriginal youth, Black youth, youth of colour, young womyn, LGBTQ youth, youth with little or no incomes, and youth living with (dis)abilities are especially encouraged to apply. If you have a strong commitment to helping youth make social and environmental changes in their communities and you want to gain experience running a national, non-profit, youth-for-youth organization, follow these simple steps: · complete a nomination/application form · submit your form by early August when we have our Annual General Meeting Although the YAN Board is based in Toronto, we welcome people from across Canada to join as Regional Directors. The main responsibility of regional board members is to conduct regional outreach of Youth Action Network to the constituency in their region. For more information about becoming a Board member or Regional Director, or to get an application form, check out www.youthactionnetwork.org, email general@youthactionnetwork.org or call 416-368-2277. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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FORUM
HIV SPECIAL SECTION: AIDS HIV AIDS HIV AIDS
Art by Jason Leung
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Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
a dream is a seed the seed of a tree a tree full of life by Freddy Cna
“A dream is a seed The seed of a tree A tree full of life And things you can be
Your dreams are the windows Through which you can see A hint of your future And wings for one thee Each night when you sleep You’re feeding the seed The seed of the tree Of the one who you’ll be... Don’t let this die… Alive… no plea! But life to cheer You are the one To win this lead!
Come with me Fight AIDS indeed!”
A...I...D...S... by Uitsile Ndlovu
Acquired Insensitivity to Death Syndrome America’s Invention to Discourage Sex Another Insignificant Dying Statistic Africa Is Doomed to Suffer A
As If Death Selects I
AIDS SDIA D Senseless Death In Agony S Someone’s Daughter Is Alone Silence Does Inexcusable ‘Arm Saving the Dying Inspires All
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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AIDS patients
Art by Adrienne Lee
Les patients du sida versus AIDS patents contre les brevets du sida By/Par Nicole Ghanie Translation/traduction par Dwain Richardson
I
N A BATTLE CHALLENGING MULTINATIONAL DRUG PATENT
rights, the Davids of the poor and sick are pitted against the pharmaceutical industry’s Goliaths. On one hand, AIDS has a death grip on 30 million Africans. On the other, multinational pharmaceutical companies have a death grip on patent rights to protect billions in revenue. In breakthrough legislation, Canada’s plan to export cheap drugs to developing countries suffering health emergencies is almost ready and cabinet ministers have agreed not to limit eligibility for cheap generics to certain health crises. This pioneering move comes at a crucial time when the death toll in Africa from HIV/AIDS is already more than the combined number of civilian and military deaths in both world wars. In the face of these tragedies, mostly afflicting indigent black Africans, the world is morally defaulting on the need to act. Instead, the countries that dominate the global system are 10
D
ANS UN COMBAT MULTINATIONAL QUI MET EN CAUSE LES
droitsdes brevets des drogues, les Davids des pauvres et malades se mesurent aux industries pharmaceutiques des Goliaths. Sur une main, le SIDA a une emprise mortelle aux 30 000 000 Africains. Sur l’autre, les compagnies pharmaceutiques multinationales ont une emprise mortelle aux droits des brevets afin de protéger un milliard aux revenus. Le projet canadien qui vise à exporter les drogues bon marché aux pays développés est presque prêt. Les ministres du cabinet avaient consenti d’ailleurs à ne pas limiter l’éligibilité des produits sans marque aux certaines crises sanitaires. Ce mouvement original est découvert à un moment critique quand le taux de mortalité du VIH/SIDA en Afrique est déjà plus élevé que celui des nombreuses morts civiles et militaires en raison des guerres mondiales. En présence des tragédies auxquelles la plupart des Africains noirs font face, le Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Overwhelming death and infection statistics stimulate hopelessness and further exacerbate the division between the reality of Africans and the Big Pharma’s obsession on profits. turning a blind eye toward the epidemic under the guise of protecting patent rights. Overwhelming death and infection statistics stimulate hopelessness and further exacerbate the division between the reality of Africans and the Big Pharma’s obsession on profits. At what point did tragedies become relegated to simple market statistics? Stephen Lewis, the UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, sent an impassioned plea to rich nations to modify drug patents in the name of human rights. In an act unparalleled by any G-7 nation, Canada has answered that call by initiating a bill to relax the Patent Act and allow the export of cheap generics for health emergencies. In support, Paul Martin declared, “There’s no doubt the recommendation...that these drugs must be provided to these countries as quickly as possible and as low cost as possible...is something Canada should fulfill.” Why are patents so strongly protected? Drug patents are used by the industry to set the price high and hold it there for decades in order to recoup the costs of drug research and development (R & D). The Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement (TRIPS), developed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), is intended to be flexible enough to allow production of generics during health disasters. Rich nations have used this allowance at their whim, whilst simultaneously using the flexibility to block developing nations from evoking the same clause. The Big Pharma pesters that pharmaceutical R&D will be at risk if patents are relaxed. On the contrary, much of R & D is not administered by the Big Pharma, but through a myriad of public health institutions. Second, profits don’t automatically materialize into new and better drugs. Across the drug industry, the introduction of new drugs plunged last year to 17 from a high of 53 in 1996, despite a doubling in annual research spending to US $32 billion, which brings into question other factors affecting R & D. Finally, the costs and benefits of pharmaceutical patents vary across drug markets. Almost 60% of the Big Pharma’s profits are from drugs sold in the U.S. and so accordingly, the R & D tends to be geared towards drugs in demand by aging Westerners. Jean Pierre Garnier, head of Glaxo SmithKline, asserts, “The lack of medicine in Africa has much more to do with a lack of infrastructure [and] a lack of means…” Garnier blatantly neglects the dismantling and marginalizing effects of WTO trade agreements, such as TRIPS, that paralyse the capacity of
monde rejette le besoin d’agir. Les pays dominants du système global ignorent l’épidémie sous l’apparence de protéger les droits des brevets au lieu d’agir. Les statistiques mortelles et infectieuses insurmontables stimulent le désespoir et aggravent davantage la division entre la réalité des Africains et l’obsession des profits “Big Pharma”. À quel moment les tragédies sontelles devenues reléguées aux statistiques du marché simple? Stephen Lewis, l’envoi spécial des Nations unies pour le SIDA en Afrique, a envoyé une supplication passionnée aux nations riches de modifier les brevets des drogues sous prétexte des droits de la personne. Dans un acte sans précédent par une nation G-7, le Canada a réagi par la création d’un projet de loi qui modifie la Loi des brevets et permet l’exportation des médicaments génériques aux fins des urgences sanitaires. Paul Martin, qui a appuyé ce mouvement, a déclaré, “Il est indéniable que la recommendation... dont ces drogues doivent être fournies aux pays aussitôt que possible et peu coûteuses que possible... est un but que le Canada devrait réaliser.” Pourquoi les brevets sont-ils fortement protégés? Ceuxci servent à fixer les prix élevés pendant des décennies afin de récupérer les coûts de la recherche-développement des drogues par l’industrie. L’Accord sur les aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce (ADPIC), développé par l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC), a l’intention d’être assez flexible afin de permettre la production de médicaments génériques pendant les catastrophes sanitaires. Les nations riches ont fait la part des choses aux fins capricieuses, alors qu’elles servent de la flexibilité simultanée pour interdire les nations développées d’en faire la même chose. Le “Big Pharma” assure que la recherchedéveloppement pharmaceutique sera en danger si les brevets sont modifiés. Par contre, la plupart de la recherchedéveloppement n’est pas administrée par le “Big Pharma” mais plutôt par une myriade des établissements de soins publiques. Deuxièmement, les profits ne se concrétisent pas aux drogues nouvelles et améliorées. À travers l’industrie des drogues, l’introduction de celles-ci a dégringolé l’année dernière à 17 d’une hausse de 53 en 1996 en dépit d’une doublure en dépenses de recherche annuelle à 32 000 000 000 $US, ce qui met en cause les facteurs de la recherche-développement. Enfin, les coûts et bénéfices des droits pharmaceutiques varient à travers les compagnies pharmaceutiques. À peu près 60% des profits “Big Pharma” proviennent des drogues vendues aux
Les statistiques mortelles et infectieuses insurmontables stimulent le désespoir et aggravent davantage la division entre la réalité des Africains et l’obsession des profits “Big Pharma”. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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economies in the developing world to effectively provide health infrastructure to their citizens. As the Big Pharma sidesteps to the music of hypocrisy conducted by the WTO, is it possible to compose a new global system that meets the objectives of human health, rather than of trade? Will the U.S. follow suit to Canada’s relaxing of patent laws? Highly unlikely as the Big Pharma lobbying power in the U.S. is dear to the heart of funding for Republican campaigns. According to the Guardian Unlimited, in 2002 political donations from the Big Pharma amounted to US $19.07 million, with the vast majority of donations going to the Republicans. Until the Big Pharma crawls out of bed with the Republicans, there is little hope that patents will be relaxed to favour generic drug exports to Africa. Corporate social responsibility cannot be sheltered by a devotion to profit that overshadows human rights. How seriously can the Big Pharma’s economics be prioritized when 3- 5,000 Africans die of HIV/AIDS daily and 13 million orphans of AIDS remain? This ‘health holocaust’ demands market interventions to save millions of innocent lives in the short and long run. It appears some lives are worth more than others to the drug industry. Would North Americans stand idly by if life-saving drugs became double the value of household incomes? This is the tragic reality for impoverished Africans living with HIV/AIDS. Zackie Achmat of South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) maintains, “Just because we are black, just because we live far from you, does not mean that our lives should be valued any less.” A 50-90% reduction in expensive drugs is an opportunity to endorse the fiscal sustainability of treatment programs by freeing up funds for other drained capacities, such as medical supplies or staff. The quandary with the
États-Unis. Par conséquent, la recherche-développement s’incline vers les drogues demandées par les Occidentaux vieillissants. Jean Pierre Garnier, chef de Glaxo SmithKline, affirme que “le manque de médecine en Afrique est attribué au manque d’infrastructure [et] celui des moyens...” Il ne prend pas en considération le démantèlement et l’abandon des effets commerciaux de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce tels que l’ADPIC qui paralyse la capacité économique du développement mondial de fournir l’infrastructure sanitaire aux citoyens efficacement. Alors que le “Big Pharma” affronte la situation de l’hypocrisie par l’OMC, est-il possible de composer un nouveau système global qui répond aux objectifs de la santé humaine plutôt que ceux du commerce? Les États-Unis en Art by Adrienne Lee feront-ils autant que le Canada quant à la modération des droits des brevets? Il est vraiment improbable car les pressions exercées des campagnes républicaines aux États-Unis leur tiennent à coeur. Selon le Guardian Unlimited en 2002, les dons politiques provenant de “Big Pharma” se sont chiffrés à 19,07 millions $US dont la majorité est donnée aux républicains. Jusqu’à ce que le “Big Pharma” sorte du lit avec les républicains, il est improbable que les brevets soient modifiés afin de favoriser les drogues génériques à l’Afrique. La responsabilité sociale et collective ne peut être protégée par un dévouement au profit qui éclipse les droits de la personne. Les économies de “Big Pharma” pourraient-elles identifier ses priorités lorsque 3 000 à 5 000 Africains meurent du VIH/SIDA tous les jours et 13 000 000 orphelins restent? Cet “holocauste de santé” exige des interventions de marché afin de sauver les vies innocentes des millions dans l’immédiat et à long terme. Il semble que quelques vies valent plus que d’autres à l’industrie des drogues. Les Nord-Américains resteraient-ils inactifs si les
La responsabilité sociale et collective ne peut être protégée par un dévouement au profit qui éclipse les droits de la personne.
Corporate social responsibility cannot be sheltered by a devotion to profit that overshadows human rights.
... page 24
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Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
About GAAP.... by Uitsile Ndlovu
THE GENDERING ADOLESCENT AIDS PREVENTION PROJECT, headed by innovative faculty and graduate students from the University of Toronto and McGill University in Canada with research collaborators in South Africa, is a border-crossing participatory research study with various research sites. It is aimed towards working with young people in relation to sexuality, HIV prevention, and AIDS awareness. Being one of the few research studies designed for youth, GAAP continues to acknowledge the underestimated significance of gender issues and the voice of young people in HIV/ AIDS prevention strategies targeting youth. Though the AIDS pandemic indiscriminately causes the untimely death of millions of men, women, and children, young people are especially vulnerable to the disease and are currently leading the globally increasing rate of HIV incidence. Efficacy of prevention methods
today must not only take this into account and tailor their messages to youth accordingly, but must initially seek out ideas from the youth themselves. Where possible, the youth should participate in the implementation processes of their own ideas and encourage their peers in behavior they have already learnt. Gender, the behavioral, cultural and/or psychological (never biological traits typically associated with one’s sex) should not be overlooked when conducting AIDS awareness studies. As HIV/AIDS rate trends show, gender is a significant factor (femininity being far more dangerous!) Society dynamically shapes the ‘appropriate’ epitome of typically masculine or feminine behavior, and most youth conform to these social molds. Since prevention strategies are all fundamentally behavioral modifications, GAAP insists that the overall goal of its work be to develop HIV/AIDS prevention programs with youth that recognize these differences. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
True to GAAP’s aim was ‘Soft Cover’, a project with South African township youth. Involved in this project were McGill University, University of Toronto (GAAP), University of Witwatersrand, University of Western Cape, Center for the Book in Cape Town and the Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) from Ottawa. Through this project, youth from Khayelitsha township were able to freely discuss the issues surrounding AIDS which they found most important and were also able to create a book with the help of illustrators, graphic artists, publishers, HIV activists and many more. Similar in its direct focus on youth was another project, sponsored by GAAP, called ‘Taking Action’ held at the University of Toronto. With guidance and ‘hip’ ideas from a Youth Advisory Board, youth between the ages of 16 to 25 years came together on arts-based HIV prevention strategies,
with sessions on hip hop, graffiti, photography, drama and poetry. Highlighting the future of GAAP in one of her interviews, Dr. June Larkin, GAAP’s principal investigator said, “One of GAAP’s future goal is to connect youth in Toronto and South Africa through web interaction. There are also plans with Professor Njoki Wane of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto to Expand GAAP’s research to Kenya. Making transnational links is important because forces of globalization in one place may have an impact on the risk of HIV/AIDS in another.1 ” To find out more about GAAP and the many, exceptional people who are its soul and passion, please visit the website www.utgaap.info and email any questions and comments to gaap.project@utoronto.ca . 1
http://www.obgyn.net/newsheadlines_medical_newsAIDS_Education-20030416-0.asp
An undergraduate in the Specialist Health and Disease Program at the University of Toronto, Uitsile Ndlovu is aiming for a career in clinical research. She is the Youth Coordinator for GAAP and is also part of the student committee of the Center for International Health, Faculty of Medicine. 13
Question: “Why are we all of a sudden detecting a rise in the number of infected youth?”
HIV/AIDS… and Youth… Myth? Reality? Problem of the past? by Freddy Cna
Numbers… numbers… WELCOME TO REALITY! IN THE 21ST CENTURY, we are still fighting a deadly disease that had caused the deaths of millions of people around the world since its first reported case more than twenty years ago. By the end of 2002 there was an estimate Art by Jason Leung 49 million people living with HIV/AIDS all over the world, where 5 million of those were new cases and 3.1 million people died of HIV/AIDS. Those scary numbers include newborn, children, youth, adults, mid-aged, and elders. Ontario accounts for almost 50% of the new cases of HIV infection in the country, followed by British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta still share the highest numbers since the beginning of the outbreak in early 80’s. HIV positive test reports of individuals aged 15-39 reveal that those make up for almost 80% of the cases, being males the big share of the group. The major percentage of cases is still among homosexuals (males/ females), but those have been in steady decline since late 1990’s. New numbers reveal that heterosexual transmission is as high as it has ever been, mainly among youth. Youth had been the target group of most campaigns, but the message doesn’t seem to have any effect anymore. Question: “Why are we all of a sudden detecting a rise in the number of infected youth?” 14
Who? How? Males or females, heterosexuals, homosexuals or bisexuals, trans-genders, transsexuals, transvestites, drag queens, or drag kings, drug users, Europeans, North/Central/South Americans, Asians, Africans, Middle-Eastern, Natives, Aboriginals, Indians… poor, street kids, rich, middle class, educated or illiterate, good looking or not, healthy or not, tall or short, fat or slim… HIV chooses no specific person for infection! There is no special human being able to “ignore” the virus or not contract it. If a person is undergoing risky behaviours such as: drug use, tattoos* , piercing* (share of needles/ syringes/ injectables/ perforants- sharp tools) and/or unsafe/ unprotected sexual activities (anal or oral- homo/bi/heterosexual, vaginal, SM– maso/sadistic, and etc), they risk contraction. According to recent studies, the actual numbers may be even higher, mainly among youth. This may be due to an unawareness of the individual’s HIV status, risky sexual behaviours and/or non-officially reported cases. Some teens still take someone “looking” healthy as a “green light” for unprotected sex. Others believe that washing off the sexual organs or mouth will kill any possible infection. * If done under improper and/or non-sterile conditions and/or not well trained professionals.
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Why? Questions such as “Why are the numbers on rise again mainly among youth?”; “Why isn’t the message having any effect on youth anymore?”; “What can we do to change the actual reality?” had become more and more of a study among governments, institutions, and plenty of organizations worldwide. Today’s youth did not see the epidemic in early 80’s and the peak of infections in 1995. They have had too much of the very same repeated sexual awareness messages. They are tired of listening to the same thing at a time where most HIV positive individuals live under cocktails of medicines or even those without medicines for sometimes more than twenty years with no symptoms of AIDS!
There are no visible efforts from provinces and/or federal agencies to reach the core of the problem, which now is youth In Canada, the major concern is among marginalized youth and other minorities such as: youth from small villages, sex traders, black, poor, Asians, youth in the process of coming out towards their sexuality, low and/or uneven protocols towards sex education throughout the country (including who will deliver the message and in which way – those are not standardized, therefore, it is unlikely to ensure the message is having any impact). There are no visible efforts from provinces and/or federal agencies to reach the core of the problem, which now is youth.
Drugs, party, and HIV risks… Also, another side of the actual perspective… youth are the new “consumers” of the new generation of drugs, such as “E”, “K”, “D”, “PP”, “pot”, “crack”, “hash”, and others. They may be injectable, “sneezed in”, smoked, or simply swallowed. Injectable drugs, with the use of needles/syringes/ perforants, may transmit the virus from one person to another as such drug users are usually unaware of what they are doing after the first dose – a few seconds, therefore, they might share those “drug tools” unconsciously. “Sneezed in,” smoked, or swallowed drugs may not be a direct cause for HIV transmission, but the problem is not during the usage, but during the effects it causes. It is very common in nightclubs for people to make use of such drugs in order to feel more “uninhibited” on the dance floor. Drinking just adds to the problem, either by Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
itself (getting drunk) or in a dangerous combination with other drugs. One gets on total “junkie” (one of the terms used to define a person undergoing the effect of hallucinogens). It had become very common to see people having sexual activities in the washrooms of such nightclubs. Those kinds of “clubbers” are at very high risk once anonymous sex is frequent (they don’t know who the person is nor the person’s HIV/STD’s status). In a very famous nightclub, a youth reports: “They look like mummies in the dance floor. They dance according to the ‘wave’ of the music. When you pass by them, they are so ‘high’ that they will not even recognize they own parents! They want the feeling of being ‘knocked out’, mainly when having sex…no one cares who the person is, but what you feel! Sometimes, that is the best ‘f...’ ever!” Besides all the efforts of community members to make those individuals who engage in risky behaviours aware of their actions, not much is achieved through the traditional models of message deliverance.
What can we do? According to respectable institutions in HIV/AIDS and STD’s awareness such as ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto), the best way to deliver the message to youth today is making use of other resources that interact with youth. Creative ways such as arts, music, theatre, sculpture, or dance are just a few of the multiple resources available. These have been proven to be more efficient when delivered by youth for youth. It is also important to note that youth have to see someone of their “own” group sharing the concern; youth message conveyed with youth language. Hence, an HIV positive youth is another way of directing a message creating a “healthy” discussion around the theme where a supervisor with full knowledge could organize. In order to deliver a message efficiently, there is the need for a “mild” threat with reality factors, showing the symptoms and obstacles an HIV positive youth had to undergo. Also, what he/she saw, thought, did, and how/why he/she became HIV positive.
not much is achieved through the traditional models of message deliverance All groups of youth can be targeted as long as it is done properly. Even where there are youth unable to share such workshops’ experiences and/or are out of reach from the awareness programs or even those who come from a different background can be reached throughout the media: sitcoms, reality shows, internet, best sellers, and etc).
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What is GAAP? Situated in downtown Toronto, GAAP – Gendering Adolescence AIDS Prevention Project – is responsible for conveying HIV/AIDS youth awareness concerns to the community in such a way so that it can reach as many youth as possible, significantly enough to change the sadly increasing numbers of infections, transmissions, and/or risky behaviours. GAAP has no religious or political affiliation with any group or community. It is composed of an advisory youth board of members from varied academic, professional, and ethnic backgrounds, therefore, trying to cover as much ground of information and updates following opinions, points of views, ideas, concerns, and issues as possible throughout a serious and enjoyable experience for the entire group. The board has supervisors and qualified professionals in order to ensure good quality of work and constant follow up on the concerned issue.
How is GAAP doing that? GAAP is making use of innovative ways in HIV/AIDS awareness. Using the “for youth by youth” reasoning, GAAP ensures that any youth involved in the workshop(s) program will get valuable personal information and contribute to a future with a healthier society, and sharing and debating opinion
about the theme in a positive way. Hip-hop, theatre, graphic arts, photography and Q and A’s are just a few of the efforts GAAP has been making in order to change the actual HIV/AIDS picture in Toronto. GAAP is also trying to influence other provinces and/or countries. GAAP also tries to outreach to as many communities’ centers/agencies/services as possible, but the problem lies on the willingness of those parties in adding up forces towards awareness and in some cases on the fund availability they all share. There is the need for a change in the way awareness is directed towards youth, and GAAP seems to be the language to be spoken. With courage and strength…learn it and live it! Freddy is from Brazil and is a 3rd year student at York University, pursuing a double major in Biology and Psychology. He volunteers at the Distress Center, AIDS Community of Toronto, and GAAP. References: 1.HIV and AIDS in Canada – Surveillance Report DEC. 2002 (Health Canada) 2.Living – “Why are youth still contracting HIV?” (MAY/JUNE 2001PP 11-13) 3.Managing Your Health – Module 5 – 1999 (CATI – Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange) 4.UNAIDS – AIDS Epidemic Update – DEC. 2002 (UNAIDS/ WHO)
My first fall into the by Jenny Lee MY INVOLVEMENT WITH GENDERING ADOLESCENCE AIDS Prevention (GAAP) project began in early 2003 when I joined its Youth Advisory Board (YAB). My friend was already involved and her excitement for the project and my curious interest lead me to join GAAP. Our collective goal was to organize the “Taking Action: Arts and HIV Prevention with Youth” conference in late March of 2003. This all-day conference was directed at exploring innovative ways to discuss AIDS/HIV with young people. Everyone on the YAB was receptive to new ideas and enthusiastic about what GAAP was to achieve. At each meeting we brainstormed numerous ideas to develop the conference into a more exciting, thought-provoking and engaging experience for all participants. When certain problems arose new strategies were suggested and adjustments were made. We discussed about what to emphasize, what to spend time doing and what we wanted people to take away from the experience. As we progressively advanced toward our goal we grew together as a team as well as friends. Each member of the advisory board took on certain tasks early in the planning process and I was responsible for inviting community groups to the conference. The AIDS/HIV prevention or related community groups were to set up booths in the main room at the conference. It was a way for GAAP to 16
establish a network of connections and also to expose participants to the different resources available. With research and help from the YAB, a list of organizations to contact was devised. I was overwhelmed when I recognized the vast range of organizations/resources and how specific they were to different groups. Upon inviting over 15 organizations, many of them replied and updates on the progress were reported at YAB meetings. More than 50 people attended the conference. Many community groups set up amazing displays, which were very much appreciated by everyone. I found the conference to be a refreshing experience filled with stimulating discussions and creative activities. Without a doubt, the conference was a great success and participants and organizers alike enjoyed it. Through my experience with GAAP I have learned more about myself and met wonderful people. I am thrilled to be on YAB once again this year to help plan another exciting event for GAAP. Fresh from “double-cohort”, Jenny Lee is a first year Life Science student at University of Toronto, St. George Campus. She is the Community Outreach Coordinator for GAAP. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Gendering HIV/AIDS
education and prevention in Ontario schools Art by Helen Tsang
by Nikki Kumar Gender, Youth, and HIV/AIDS Risk YOUTH ARE BECOMING THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS WORLDWIDE.1 Over half of the world’s HIV infections occur in 15 to 24 year olds lending to most deaths from AIDS occurring approximately 10 to 15 years later.2 Although the limited data available suggest that the HIV prevalence is currently low among Canadian youth, risky sexual behaviour (engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse, such as failure to use a male condom and increasing the chances for contracting STIs or HIV from a potentially infected sexual partner), escalating sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates and the steadily increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS data indicate the potential exists for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS among this population.3 Furthermore, the rapidly increasing HIV incidence among women in both the industrialized and developing worlds are portraying women as the fastest growing group of HIV/AIDS sufferers.4 Indeed, a recent statement issued by the United Nations maintains that approximately half of the 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are women and girls.5 The increasing infection rates among both women and youth suggest that young women may be a particularly vulnerable group for the transmission of HIV/AIDS.6 Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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Globally, heterosexual intercourse has emerged as one of the most common modes of HIV transmission for women and girls.7 Gender plays a key factor in women and girls’ vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS risk of infection.8 For young women in particular, it is a combination of social and e c o n o m i c vulnerabilities combined with a greater biological susceptibility in contracting HIV infection that increases their HIV infection risk while simultaneously constraining their control and power in heterosexual encounters. 9 Biologically, the HIV vi-
However, current sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention curricula in schools fail to adequately acknowledge the gendered aspect of HIV/AIDS transmission occurring in young women. Based on gaps prevalent in the current Grades 9 and 10: Health and Physical Education Ontario curriculum,17 I suggest several guiding principles for developing STI and HIV/ AIDS education and prevention within this particular curriculum that acknowledges the inequitable and gendered condition of young women in heterosexual encounters in their risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention: Why Gender Matters Most young people begin sexual activity in their teenage years, engage in a wide variety of sexual practices, and are likely to have numerous sexual partners. 18 Among Canadian youth 15 to 19 years of age, it is estimated that 60% of Canadian males and 57% of Canadian females are having heterosexual intercourse.19 Furthermore, many of these Canadian youth are having unprotected and risky heterosexual intercourse.20 Among sexually active 15 to 19 year olds in the 1994 (Canadian) National Public Health Survey (excluding subjects who had a same sex partner and who were married, common-law, divorced, or widowed), 51% of females and 29% of males reported never or only sometimes using a male condom in the past year.21 For those ages 20 to 24 years, the numbers were 53% and 44% respectively.22 In particular, engaging in unprotected heterosexual intercourse appears to be occurring more commonly among young women than it is among young men.23 An imbal-
current sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention curricula in schools fail to adequately acknowledge the gendered aspect of HIV/ AIDS transmission occurring in young women
rus is more efficient in infecting women during male to female transmission as compared to males contracting the virus from infected female sexual partners during unprotected heterosexual intercourse.10 Furthermore, cultural values, increased incidences of structural and sexual violence against women, and perceived norms about heterosexuality, masculinity, and femininity, are highly influential in influencing the behaviour and HIV-preventative choices of women located in heterosexual relationships.11 These biological, social and economic vulnerabilities shape the reality of risk for HIV infection in young women as well as their potential for adopting HIV-preventative strategies such as using a male condom during heterosexual intercourse.12 However, relatively few HIV-preventative interventions have been designed specifically for women, moreover young women, although given the rapid increases observed in HIV infection, particularly among economically disadvantaged young women of colour.13 In recent years, there has been a growing concern in relation to young people’s sexual and reproductive health in Canada.14 Health Canada recently developed national goals for the reduction of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other STIs accompanied by proposed behavioural and social change strategies to achieve these goals.15 Yet, it is the presence of sexual health education and prevention programs in the formal curricula of Canadian primary and secondary schools that offer the greatest opportunity for accurate, current, and professionally supervised sexual health education to reach most youth.16 18
ance of power and control within heterosexual relations can be viewed as one of the critical factors influencing the negotiation of male condom use during heterosexual intercourse. 24 This leaves many youth, particularly young women, at high risk for unintended pregnancy, STIs, and HIV.25 During 10 to 24 years of age, youth establish many behaviour patterns that will affect their risk for HIV infection at present and in the future.26 Early intervention is an important Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
step in helping youth to adopt and maintain prevention knowledge and strategies against HIV infection.27 School-based programs remain an essential avenue for providing sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention to young people.28 According to Health Canada’s (1994) Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education, “as the single formal institution to have meaningful contact with nearly every young person, schools are a vital resource for providing children, adolescents, and young adults with the knowledge and skills they will need to make and act upon decisions that promote sexual health.”29 The Guidelines further state that sexual health and STI/ HIV programs should intend to enhance sexual health through positive self-image and self-worth, maintenance of physical and reproductive health, while preventing sexual health problems including unintended pregnancies, STIs, HIV/AIDS, and exploitation and abuse.30 While knowledge about HIV transmission provides a critical foundation for preventing risk behaviours, knowledge alone is not enough. Despite the common stereotype of young people as irresponsible and hedonistic, they are an extremely heterogeneous group, with experiences, expressions, and sexual risk behaviours varying widely according to gender, cultural background, age, sexuality, and socioeconomic status.31 Thus, sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention in schools needs to both understand and address the specific vulnerabilities young women confront in the increasingly gendered transmission of HIV.
gendered violence against young women. It is these factors that need to be recognized as contributing to young women’s inability to negotiate successful condom use in heterosexual relationships, and placing them at increased risk for HIV infection from potentially infected male partners. The current sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention program in the Grade 9 and 10 Ontario curriculum tends to focus on protecting young women from the dangers of aggressive masculine sexuality, pregnancy, STIs, and HIV, and often constructs the role of young women as the sexual victim. This promotes young women as the passive feminine objects of masculine (hetero)sexual desires.33 Furthermore, sexual health and STI/ HIV education and prevention programs encourage young women to engage in heterosexual intercourse only after establishing male partner commitment. Thus, these programs promote the heterosexual conventions of love and the ‘taken-forgranted’ uncontrollable sexual desires of males, expecting young women to adhere to the stereotypically feminine, and hence, sexually controlled and responsible ‘good girl’ role in heterosexual relationships.34 The dominant discourse in the current Ontario sexual health curriculum, then, remains filled with the privileging of male sexual desire and acceptance of conventional gender roles while downplaying female sexuality. Sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention programs in Ontario schools need to challenge the conventional roles of masculine and feminine sexuality and create a discourse that incorporates an active female sexuality. This would allow young women and young men to identify and develop the sexual needs, desires and pleasures of young women, and help to release young women from the sexual and social (such as reputation amongst peers) constraints placed on them through the socially accepted and expected feminine sexual roles of sexual passivity, innocence and ignorance. 35 Thus, the sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention program in the Ontario curriculum needs to address why the sexual desires, experiences and behavioural expectations of young women and young men exist, and to concentrate on developing positive meanings for young people to associate with female and male sexuality, while providing a means for young people to communicate their sexual desires to one another without social stigmatization.
While knowledge about HIV transmission provides a critical foundation for preventing risk behaviours, knowledge alone is not enough
Gendering HIV/AIDS Programs for Ontario Youth Sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention programs in Ontario schools offer the unique opportunity for sexuality education to reach the majority of youth.32 While it is important that sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention programs continue to teach youth the ‘basics’ of sexual health education including sexual development, reproductive health and recognizing the signs and symptoms of STIs and HIV, it is also crucial that these education and prevention programs for youth, in particular young women, challenge the current sexual health and STI/ HIV knowledge that is often modelled on the conventional roles of active and aggressive masculine sexuality and passive feminine sexuality, constructions of heterosexuality created through the privileging of male sexual desire, and minimal awareness to
[programs] need to challenge the conventional roles of masculine and feminine sexuality and create a discourse that incorporates an active female sexuality
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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Another aspect which remains unexplored in the sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention discourse in the Grade 9 and 10 Ontario curriculum is how young women and young men attach different meanings to what constitutes ‘risky’ heterosexual intercourse, in that, a ‘risky’ sexual partner does not necessarily means he or she is an STI or HIV carrier. Thus, the sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention curriculum for young Ontario students needs to incorporate these ‘unconventional’ conceptions ‘risk’ of heterosexual activity in their sexual health and STI/HIV prevention education targeted at youth, and to develop an understanding for why these are regarded as sexual ‘risks’ besides the conventional sexual health risks of STI or HIV infection. An important facet of STI/HIV prevention education is male condom negotiation. The sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention in the Grade 9 and 10 Ontario curriculum needs to incorporate a gendered understanding of why it is more difficult for young women to negotiate male condom use with their male partners. This education and prevention entails not only providing ‘alternative’ protection strategies for young women, but educating both young women and young
men of the gendered impact of violence against women. If violence against women is treated as a serious issue and approached as an infringement on the human rights of young women, it is likely that male students will recognize and resist violence against women and possibly support the sexual and physical safety rights of young women.
the curriculum needs to address the structural inequalities faced by many young women in heterosexual relationships and within greater society
Notes 1 Health Canada 2001 2 Moore et. al. 1996 3 Health Canada 2001; Ross et. al. 1998; White 1999; Wingood and DiClemente 1996 4 Farmer 1996; Larkin 2001; White 1999 5 UNAIDS 2003 6 White 1999; Wingood and DiClemente 1996; UNAIDS 2003 7 Health Canada 2001; Larkin 2000; Wingood and DiClemente 1996 8 Mlamelli 2001 9 Holland et. al. 1999; Mlamelli 2001; UNAIDS 2003 10 Larkin 2001 11 Holland et. al. 1999 12 Mlamelli 2001; UNAIDS 2003 13 Wingood and DiClemente 1996 14 Campbell 1999 15 Campbell 1999 16 Mlamelli 2001; Ross et. al. 1998; Senn et. al. 2000 17 Ministry of Education and Training 1999 18 Moore et. al. 1996 19 Senn et. al. 2000; Thomas et. al. 1998 20 Health Canada 2001 21 Health Canada 2001 22 Health Canada 2001 23 Health Canada 2001; White 1999 24 Holland et. al. 1999; Holland and Thomson 1998 25 White 1999 26 Health Canada 2001 27 Health Canada 2001 28 McKay 2000 29 Health Canada p. 2; McKay 2000 30 Health Canada 1994; McKay 2000 31 Campbell and Aggleton 1999; National AIDS Awareness Campaign Resource Guide 1998/1999 32 Mlamelli 2001; Ross et. al. 1998; Senn et. al. 2000 33 Larkin 2001; Puri 1999 34 Holland et. al. 1999; Moore 1996; Travers and Bennett 1996 35 Suarez-Al-Adam et. al. 2000
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If the sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention programs in Ontario schools are to be effective in reducing the increasing incidence of HIV, especially among young women, the curriculum needs to address the structural inequalities faced by many young women in heterosexual relationships and within greater society. This includes educating and empowering young women and young men towards promoting an active female sexuality while challenging stereotypes of femininity and masculinity, conventions surrounding heterosexuality, and addressing the prevalence of violence against women. Indeed, young heterosexual women and young heterosexual men need a sexual health and STI/HIV education and prevention curriculum that will nurture non-violent, healthy and desired heterosexual relationships, and accordingly, contribute to a reduction in the risk and prevalence of HIV infection in young Canadian women.
Resources Campbell, C., and Aggleton, P. (1999). Young People’s Sexual Health: A Framework for Policy Debate. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 8(4), 249-262. Health Canada. (2001). HIV/AIDS Epi Update: HIV and AIDS Among Youth in Canada. Ottawa Health Canada. (1994). Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education. Ottawa.Online. Retrieved July 2001. http:// www.hcsc.gc.ca/hpb/lcdc/publicat/sheguide/index.html Holland, J., Ramazanoglu, C., Sharpe, S., and Thomson, R. (1999). Feminist Methodology and Young People’s Sexuality. In R. Parker and P. Aggleton Culture, Society, and Sexuality. London: UCL Press, 457-472. Holland J., and Thomson, R. (1998). Sexual Relationships, Negotiation and Decision Making. In J. Coleman and D. Roker (Eds.) Teenage Sexuality: Health, Risk and Education. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 59-79. Larkin, J. (2001). Gender-based Violence and HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs for Youth. Washington, D.C: Presentation at the CIES Conference. Larkin, J. (2000). Women Poverty and HIV Infection. Canadian Woman Studies 20 (3), 137-141.
... continued on page 22
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“Store in a cool dry place”: Aphrodite in the Kama Sutra Typifying‡ cultural conflict in teenagers of South Asian origin by Nidhi Punyarthi ====NOTE TO THE READER======================================== ‡‘Typifying’ means ‘giving a generalized representation’. The anecdote in this article does not describe any particular family. It does not mean to either criticize or validate any culture. It simply goes on to show how cultural conflict manifests itself in various South Asian families who have immigrated to postindustrialist1 and postmodernist2 societies. ===============================================================
T HE PROSPECTS OF WIELDING ‘dollar’ money won over the comprehension of the synonymous association between ‘moving to Canada’ and ‘culture shock’. Ma and ba (or other vernacular versions of those) gleefully packed the inanimate remnants of their past into suitcases. They then set sail for the land of milk, honey and big-name universities, conclusively counting the unhatched eggs on each floor of the skyscrapers of their dreams. The kids, albeit teenagers, readily shared ma and ba’s every whim and fancy. *** Cringing, the daughter shifts around in her bed from irritating sensations in her vagina. On-the-spot spermicide used in conjunction with the condom is the least conspicuous yet favourably effective form of birth control; household regimens are far too supervised for a regular pill schedule. She plans to spend more time with her girlfriend from now on: a flawless avoidance of pregnancy juxtaposed with the lack of a definition in Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
the household’s terms of discussion. Any comprehension or even acknowledgement of her deviance would establish her disobedience of all values and disregard of her elders’ love. A heartless and irreparable demolition of her personality, her future and her potential. Meanwhile, the son downloads an unending stream of internet porn on his computer. After all, his parents don’t even talk about sex. He plans to get into his girlfriend’s pants the next day, exactly the way the man is doing it on the computer screen. He fumbles through the damp tight folds in the Art by Helen Tsang inside of his backpack and his leastinvaded pockets, and pulls out a condom package striated with the words ‘STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE’. He contemplates to do as many as possible before he exits university and joins hands with that girl ma and ba have chosen. Younger girls or much older girls are best: the former don’t whine too much about birth control thanks to their lack of its knowledge; the latter are smooth and controlled, and know exactly what they want. 21
renewal is inevitably endorsed and mandated. *** **** The immigrant situation places an individual within contrasting social spheres of family and society. Such a dichotomy, if not dealt with, proves seriously detrimental to both familial and individual development. In South Asian countries, the more assiduous adherence to South Asian culture is made possible through the greater homogeneity of ideals between the family and the society. The pronounced absence of this homogeneity in the immigrant situation creates cultural conflict. Teenagers deal with cultural conflict by modifying the socialized values of their cultures of origin in order to incorporate the ideals and strategies for survival in a postindustrialist and postmodernist society – a very personal and intimate modification. The culture of the society is predominant in this mixing as societal ties radiate further than those of the family; therefore, they exert a greater force over the individual. In a postindustrialist and postmodernist society – be it virtue or vice – the individual potential for cultural exploration and
1. Postindustrialism – The repercussions of the proliferation of technology and the formation of the ‘global village’; how this impacts us physically, emotionally and psychologically. 2. Postmodernism – The combination of various forms of art and subsequent methods of belief; the ongoing fluidity and plasticity of identity as a result.
Nidhi Punyarthi is an undergraduate student in Women’s Studies at the University of Toronto. She is a recent member of the GAAP’s Youth Advisory Board; she first got involved as a participant in the ‘Taking Action’ symposium. Her aims with GAAP include: (1) to help design more workshops and symposiums for youth, (2) to focus her area of specialization on cultural conflict faced by immigrants to Canada, particularly of South Asian origin, and (3) to help immigrant youth and their families to alleviate the conditions of cultural conflict.
... Gendering HIV/AIDS education and prevention
McKay, A. (2000). Common Questions about Sexual Health Education. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 9 (2), 129-137. Ministry of Education and Training. (1999). Health and Physical Education. The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10. Ontario. Online. Retrieved July 2001. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/ document/curricl/secondary/health/healful.html Mlamelli, O., Napo, V., Mabelane, P., Free, V., Goodman, M., Larkin, J.,Mitchell, C., Mkhize, H., Robinson, K. & Smith, A. (2001). Workshop 6:Gender and HIV/AIDS. In Opening Our Eyes: Addressing Gender-based Violence in South African Schools. Pretoria: Canada-South Africa Education Management Program, 131-138. Moore, S., Rosenthal, D., and Mitchell, A. (1996). Youth, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. London: Routledge Press. National AIDS Awareness Campaign Resource Guide. (1998/ 1999). HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet: Youth and HIV/AIDS. The Canadian AIDS Society’s National AIDS Awareness Campaign, The Faces of HIV/AIDS. Ottawa. Puri, J. (1999). Woman, Body and Desire in Post-Colonial India. London: Routledge Press. Ross, B., Dunn, L., Caines, T., and Howorth, P. (1998). A Schoolbased HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Program: Outcomes of Peerled Versus Community Health Nurse-led Interventions. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 7 (4), 339-345.
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Senn, C.Y., Desmaris, S., Verberg, N. J., Wood, E. J. (2000). Offering Sexual Health Fairs to Supplement Existing Sexual Education Programs: An Evaluation of Adolescent Students’ Knowledge Needs. Alberta Journal of Educational Research 46 (4), 356-371. Suarez-Al-Adam, M., Raffaelli, M., and O’Leary, A. (2000). Influence of Abuse and Partner Hypermasculinity on the Sexual Behaviour of Latinas. AIDS Education and Prevention 12(3), 263274. Thomas, B. H., DiCenso, A., and Griffith, L. (1998). Adolescent Sexual Behaviour: Results form an Ontario Sample, Part II: Adolescent Use of Protection. Canadian Journal of Public Health 89(2), 94-97. Travers, M., and Bennett, L. (1996). AIDS, Women and Power. In L. Sherr, C. Hankins, and L. Bennett AIDS as a Gender Issue. London: Taylor and Francis, 64-77. UNAIDS. (2003). Integration of Human Rights of Women and a Gender Perspective. United Nations Commission on Human Rights. http://www.unaids.org. White, R. T. (1999). Putting Risk in Perspective: Black Teenage Lives in the Era of AIDS. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers Inc. Wingood, G. M. and DiClemente, R. J. (1996). HIV Sexual Risk Reduction Interventions for Women: A Review. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 12(3), 209-213.
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
End Violence Against Women: Combat HIV/AIDS by Jennifer Chisholm for Amnesty International Canada “I was in Nyanca [Rwanda] during the war, and my husband was killed. The militia raped me and my sisters-in-law. … I was already pregnant at the time, now my child is ten years old…My second husband abandoned me when he learned I had HIV. He denigrated me in front of the neighborhood, so now my neighbors also make fun of me. I am worried because I have no property, no money for food for the children, and we live badly. I am always sick and we are too poor…I don’t get help from the government because I did not lose enough people during the war.” THIS TESTIMONY GIVEN TO AMNESTY International by a rape survivor in Kigali, Rwanada illustrates some of the devastating ways in which women are affected by violence and HIV/AIDS. The relationship between violence against women and HIV/AIDS contraction is complex. To understand key elements of the links between violence against women and HIV/AIDS this article will review the issues by organizing them into three categories; pre-transmission, transmission, and post-transmission. Violence against women and transmission of HIV is the result of a vicious cycle of discrimination, brutality and illhealth. Violence against women is the end result of an exertion of power over women. It is this unequal balance of power that encourages discrimination, and violations to women’s human rights. Pre-transmission In many societies women do not have the same rights as men. Women’s rights are consistently violated, if not denied entirely. A woman’s right to marry on her own accord is violated when she is ‘promised’ to a man in exchange for a dowry. Her right to own property is denied in many countries around Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
the world. A woman’s right to work is denied through unequal access to jobs and resources. Most obvious though, is the pervasive denial of a woman’s right to control what happens to her own body. It is this basic denial of fundamental rights which increases women’s vulnerability to becoming infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Transmission The denial or violation of a woman’s rights can come in many forms and has devastating results. However, sexual violence is one of the most wide-spread and distressing effects of discrimination against women. Women are at risk of sexual violence from strangers, police, armed forces, militia, as was the case of the woman from Rwanda, and even her own husband or family members. When a woman is raped, there are a number of things that occur which dramatically increase her chances of contracting HIV/AIDS. Typically, when a woman is forced into intercourse, the tension, combined with the forcefulness of the perpetrator can result in tearing, bruising and contusions in and around the vaginal wall. Such open wounds enable viruses to enter the woman’s blood stream easily. Thus a woman’s physiology vastly increases the likelihood of contraction. Also, in situations of forced intercourse, women cannot negotiate the terms of sex, meaning they are unable to press the use of a condom. Women’s lack of access to adequate employment may force her to work in the sex trade to earn money for her survival and/or that of her family. The client’s control over the sexual relationship frequently prevents a woman from having any control over the nature of the sexual relationship. Thus, preventing her from having safe sexual relations. 23
Post-transmission Once a woman is infected with HIV she is frequently subjected to further human rights violations. Her right to health is further jeopardized by being denied treatment and access to antiretroviral drugs because she lacks resources to pay for these services or they are simply not made available to her. In many countries where the AIDS epidemic is most devastating, access to medical care and drug treatment is difficult to get, if it is offered at all. When cost is a factor in medical care, men are often chosen over women to receive it.. Also, her access to food, clothing, housing and medical care is subject to her dependence on her husband or other male family members. A woman’s right to security in the event of sickness is often denied due to her illness It is culturally acceptable in many societies for a man to leave his wife and children with nothing if it is discovered she is infected with HIV. Women who are HIV positive are often shunned by their families and communities, left to survive and die alone. We are now faced with a generation of girls growing up in extreme poverty. This increases their vulnerability to repeat the same pattern of discrimination, and violence as the generation before.
Make a Change – Speak Out The impact of violence against women is life shattering for all women who experience it. Those that have contracted HIV as a result experience further devastation. The cycle of discrimination, brutality and illness continues in younger generations. You can do something about it. It is extremely important to continue to educate yourself about the effects of violence against women and its relationship to HIV/AIDS infection. Continue to educate yourself about the effects of violence against women and its relationship to HIV/AIDS infection. Help friends become more informed and concerned. Take action to stop violence against women in your school and neighborhood - and in other communities around the world. You’ve heard about violence against women, you may have even seen it or experienced it first hand. Now it’s time to stop it. Speak out, take action – join the growing community of people around the world who are demanding that violence against women stop now! Log on to Amnesty International Canada’s website at www.amnesty.ca to find more information and take action. Or check out www.unaids.org or www.icw.org (International Community of Women Living With AIDS).
... AIDS patients versus AIDS patents ... Les patients du sida contre les brevets du sida
Big Pharma is the disregard for how AIDS annihilates the social fabric of African societies. Essentially, the Big Pharma and Western nations are demanding that the threads left behind be woven into a better marketplace for the interests of outsiders. While the liquidation of African lives continues at the cost of maintaining Garnier’s salary at US $5 952 317 annually, equitable access to medicines dictates a higher price: a shift in consciousness towards an economy that is nourished with and for healthy people. By 2010, AIDS deaths in Africa are likely to double if the global system continues to privilege profits over people. How many must die before global capitalism stimulates health for the masses instead of wealth for the Big Pharma? Nicole Ghanie is in her final year at York University finishing her Bachelors of Environmental Studies and double majoring in Political Science. Her thesis work is investigating AIDS and orphan households in Africa and she hopes to work internationally in the battle against AIDS.
drogues vitales devenaient deux fois plus la valeur des revenus familiaux? Voici la réalité tragique des Africains pauvres vivant avec le VIH/SIDA. Zackie Achmat du Treatment Action Campaign, en Afrique du Sud, soutient, “Ce n’est pas parce que nous sommes noirs ou parce que nous habitons loin de vous que nos vies devraient être moins appréciées.” Une réduction de 50 % à 90 % en drogues chères est une possibilité d’appuyer la viabilité budgétaire des programmes de traitement par le dégagement des fonds pour d’autres capacités telles que les provisions ou employés médicaux. Le dilemme dans lequel “Big Pharma” se trouve est l’indifférence à laquelle le SIDA détruit le tissu social des sociétés africaines. C’est avant tout le “Big Pharma” et les nations occidentales qui veulent que les fils restants soient incorporés dans un meilleur marché par souci des observateurs. Pendant que la liquidation des vies africaines maintient toujours le salaire de Garnier à 5 952 317 $US par année, l’accès équitable aux médecines impose un prix supérieur: un changement de conscience vers une économie entretenue avec et pour la population saine. D’ici 2010, les décès du SIDA en Afrique sont probables à doubler si le système global poursuit à privilégier les profits au-dessus la population. Combien de personnes doivent mourir avant que le capitalisme global stimule la santé des masses plutôt que les richesses de “Big Pharma”? Traduction par Dwain Richardson.
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Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Young women and HIV/AIDS facts, frustrations, and forward thinking by Kristy Evans
HIV/AIDS AND YOUNG WOMEN —a horribly depressing combination. For most of us- living, working, studying in Canada it is not something that is of particular concern or relevancy to our lives…right? I mean, how many young Canadian women do you know with HIV? AIDS? Or the progression between the two? How many young women do you know are battling with the numerous opportunistic infections that are indicative of the progression to full-blown AIDS? How many young women are struggling to access health services? Treatment? Nutritious food on a daily basis?
Infection rates among young women are rising throughout the world— including Canada
Probably not that many. Yet, according to recent reports by both UNAIDS1 and the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Canada2 , infection rates among young women are rising throughout the world—including Canada. “For reasons of biology, gender and cultural norms, females are more susceptible than males to HIV infection. Thus an estimated 7.3 million young women are living with HIV/ AIDS compared to 4.5 million young
men”.3 Although the majority of HIV/ AIDS infections worldwide are occurring in the developing world with a particular concentration in Sub-Saharan Africa, the conditions for its spread (namely poverty, conflict, gender inequalities) are pervasive globally (albeit to different degrees and extremes).
The conditions in which HIV/AIDS flourishes are strikingly similar worldwide. Those countries and populations who suffer from perpetual poverty, huge disparities in wealth between the rich and the poor, high unemployment rates, limited access to education and health care services, and who have generally been oppressed based on intersecting factors such as location, race, class, gender, sexual orientation (to name but a few) suffer from escalating rates of HIV infection. At the present time, in Canada, HIV/AIDS is thriving in the communities that have been particularly stigmatised and marginalized from mainstream society—gay men, the Aboriginal community, intravenous drug users, Sex Workers, and now young people4 .
Many young women still do not have the capacity to negotiate their sexual encounters
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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The undeniable fact is that HIV/AIDS is everywhere and it is everyone’s concern
Art by Clifford Gnitecki
So the questions that immediately come to mind are: What makes young women so susceptible to HIV? Why does HIV flourish in areas of poverty and desperation? And, as young people located in Canada- in the ‘developed world’- what can we do about it? Intersecting and complex factors contribute to the escalating rates of HIV among young women. Assuming that young women have access to information, education and contraception (many do not)5 , many still do not have the capacity to negotiate their sexual encounters. Cultural barriers, economic dependence, gender-based violence, and societal norms all contribute to skewed power relations in which young women often do not have the freedom to decide when, where or how sex will take place. The fact that the majority of poor people worldwide are women6 and biologically young women are more vulnerable to HIV infections than men complicate these factors. Bringing in extreme conditions in which women are forced into transactional sex for survival or experience conflict situations where rape is often used as a political tool, it becomes clear why young women are extremely vulnerable to HIV. The compounding factors of poverty and inequalities drive the pandemic by leaving people with limited choices and opportunities. For example, whether it is a woman in rural Canada, or a woman in an urban centre in Southern Africa, if both of these women suffer from impoverishment and limited access to essential services (health, education, etc.), these situations limit their choices and freedoms in potentially dangerous ways. HIV flourishes where there are limited resources, when people do not have access to contraceptives or sexual health education, when people are economically dependent on 26
their partners (leaving them with little room for negotiation), when people are so desperate to survive that short term choices seem more important than long term realities. Poverty and inequalities are all over the world. This is why HIV/AIDS is a pandemic- it is not only thriving in ‘developing’ countries where the poverty and inequalities occur in very explicit and undeniable ways, it also thrives in the ‘developed’ and ‘rich’ countries—to a lesser extent, but just as pervasively. It flourishes in communities that have limited access to services, have been marginalized, and that experience poverty and desperation. It is devastating communities that have been pushed to the ‘fringes’ of society. The undeniable fact is that HIV/AIDS is everywhere and it is everyone’s concern. Let’s not fool ourselves. Although HIV locates itself and is particularly ‘at-home’7 in areas of perpetual poverty and marginalization, it is a very opportunistic disease that is also comfortable in the most privileged environments and populations. Young Canadians are at risk. This is undeniable and must be acknowledged. Take for example, the disturbing statistic that outlines “recent findings of increases in high-risk behaviours, less frequent condom use and higher rates of sexually transmitted infections in several countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, rates of gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydial infections have more than doubled since 1995, while increases have been found in other Western Countries too”.8 This clearly indicates that despite years of sexual education and the availability of contraceptives, young people are not taking the possibility of contracting potentially life-threatening infections seriously.
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
I write this article as a wake-up call to all young Canadians (particularly young women) and would like to suggest a very practical plan of action and steps forward: 1.We must acknowledge and accept that young people (young women in particular) are the population worldwide who are increasingly the most at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. 2.We must act on these facts and begin to advocate and demand information and conditions that will allow us to make well-informed and responsible decisions about our sexual encounters. 3.We must admit that in Canada we are in a privileged location and we must acknowledge that not everyone has the same opportunities and rights that we have because of circumstances much beyond their control. We must hold ourselves accountable and make certain that they have the same rights and opportunities that we enjoy. 4.We must take responsibility for youth worldwide and start challenging the roots of the HIV/AIDS pandemic; namely poverty, inequalities and gender discrimination.
claim that we are ignorant and do not know the realities of what is happening in the world today. As young Canadians, it is time to say that ‘Enough is enough’. As youth, we must realize that we have power. The sheer and undeniable fact is that we have the numbers (nearly half of the global population is under 25 years old9 ) to create a very loud movement. It is up to us to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and the root of this is tackling the systemic and institutionalised inequalities that pervade our governments and international institutions. We must say NO to: gender inequalities, poverty, violence, and all forms of oppression. More than this, as youth we must create alternatives to our current global system that distorts priorities and preys on the vulnerable. As young Canadians it is not good enough to believe that ‘Another World is Possible10 ’. We must make this Better World happen. Acknowledge, act, advocate and agitate!!! Kristy Evans currently works with the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) on their Young Women and Leadership program in Cape Town, South Africa.
5.We must agitate for fair and equitable policies that take into consideration the realities of all women and young people. 6.We must ensure that our governments are held accountable for the implementation and compliance to the international agreements and conventions, which they have signed onto guaranteeing human rights for all.
[Canadian youth] are placed conveniently close to many centres of power and decision-making Creativity, innovative strategies and mobilization efforts among Canadian youth are imperative. Because of our location in the ‘North’, we are placed conveniently close to many centres of power and decision-making. We must harness these opportunities and entry points to ensure that our actions are not lost and that they are taken seriously. Because of factors such as globalization, our world is becoming a smaller place. Goods and services, capital and investment, ideas, information AND unfortunately HIV/AIDS are crossing borders at increasingly rapid rates. We are constantly bombarded with images of suffering, war, and poverty on our television screens, in the newspapers. We can no longer proYouth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Notes 1 UNAIDS. (2000). Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS and Young People. Retrieved from: http://www.unaids.org/Unaids/EN/ In+focus/Topic+areas/Young+people.asp on October 30, 2003. 2 Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (April 2003). HIV/AIDS Epi Updates. “HIV/AIDS Among Women in Canada”, p.18-20. 3 UNFPA. (2003). State of the World Population. “HIV/AIDS and Adolescents”, Retrieved from: http://www.unaids.org/ Unaids/EN/In+focus/Topic+areas Young+people.asp?StartRow=20 on October 30, 2003. 4 Health Canada. (April 2003). HIV/AIDS Epi Updates. 5 UNFPA. (1999) The State of the World Population 1999 ‘Six Billion A Time for Choices. p.30. 6 UNIFEM. (2000). Progress of the World’s Women 2000. “UNIFEM Biennial Report”. Table 4.4: Gender Poverty Ratio in Selected Countries. p.96. 7 Msimang, Sisonke. (2003). “HIV/AIDS, Globalization and the International Women’s Movement” in Gender and Development, 11 (1), p. 109. 8 UNAIDS. (2002). AIDS Epidemic Update. p. 25. 9 UNFPA. (1999) The State of the World Population 1999 ‘Six Billion A Time for Choices. p.1. 10 World Social Forum. (2003). ‘Another World Is Possible! Let’d Build It!’ Retrieved from: http://www.wsfindia.org/ anotherworld.php on November 5th, 2003.
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A FORUM Guide to HIV/AIDS-related Organizations
If you are looking for more information on HIV/AIDS, try getting in touch with some of these organizations.
These listings were compiled by Jason Leung, Helen Tsang and GAAP.
CANADA Canadian AIDS Society 309 Cooper St. 4th Floor, Ottawa, ON, K2P 0G5 Tel: (613) 230-3580 Fax: (613) 563-4998 Email: casinfo@cdnaids.ca Web: http://www.cdnaids.ca/ Registered as a charity since 1988, the Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) is a national coalition of 115 community-based AIDS organizations across Canada. It is dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, and to enriching the lives of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS. The Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention The Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAP)is a charitable, non-profit, community based organization committed to the prevention of the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and to promoting the health of South Asians infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS www.asaap.ca Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) is a National Coalition of Aboriginal People and organizations that provides leadership, support, and advocacy for Aboriginal People living with and affected by HIV AIDS, regardless of where they reside. www.caan.ca The Canadian Harm Reduction Network 666 Spadina Avenue, Suite 1904, Toronto, ON, M5S 2H8 Tel: 416-928-0279 or 1-800-728-1293 Fax: 416-966-9512 Web: http://www.canadianharmreduction.com/ The Canadian Harm Reduction Network is the meeting place for individuals and organizations across Canada dedicated to reducing the social, health and economic harms associated with drugs and drug policies. Canadian Public Health Association – HIV/AIDS Information Centre 400-1565 Carling Avenue, Ottawa ON, K1Z 8R1 Tel: (613) 725-3434 or 1-877-999-7740 Fax: (613) 725-1205 E-mail: aidssida@cpha.ca Web: http://www.aidssida.cpha.ca/ CPHA is a national not-for-profit association incorporated in 1912. CPHA is composed of health professionals from over 25 health disciplines and is active in conducting and supporting health and social programs both nationally and internationally. CPHA stresses its partnership role by working with federal and provincial government departments and international agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector in conducting research and health services programs.
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Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) 555 Richmond Street West, Suite 505, Box 1104, Toronto, ON M5V 3B1 Tel: (416)-203-7122 or 1-800-263-1638 Fax: (416) 203-8284 E-mail: questions@catie.ca Web: http://www.catie.ca/ The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange is a national, non-profit organization committed to improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians living with HIV/AIDS. CATIE provides treatment information not only for people living with the virus but also for their families, care providers, AIDS Service Organizations and Health Care Intermediaries . It does so through a comprehensive web site, three electronic mailing lists, various print publications and a bilingual, toll-free phone service. TreatmentUpdate / TraitementSida TreatmentUpdate/TraitementSida (TU/TS) is an internationally-renowned journal published ten times per calendar year summarizing the latest research and treatments for and about HIV and AIDS. The writing of the journal is in lay terms, making it accessible to all readers. http://www.catie.ca/tu.nsf Canadian Health Network Web: http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/ CHN is a national, non-profit, bilingual web-based health information service. CHN’s goal is to help Canadians find the information they’re looking for on how to stay healthy and prevent disease. CHN does this through a unique collaboration - one of the most dynamic and comprehensive networks anywhere in the world. This network of health information providers includes Health Canada and national and provincial/territorial non-profit organizations, as well as universities, hospitals, libraries and community organizations. For HIV/AIDS statistics in Canada Bureau of HIV/AIDS, STD and TB http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/hast-vsmt/index.html To request HIV/AIDS related publications and other resources Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse: http://www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca For information about legal and ethical issues surrounding HIV/AIDS Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network http://www.aidslaw.ca/
british columbia AIDS Vancouver 1107 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5S8 Tel: (604) 681-2122 Fax: (604) 893-2211 Web: http://www.aidsvancouver.org/ AIDS Vancouver was founded in 1983 as one of the first AIDS service organizations in Canada. For the past 20 years, AV has been at the forefront of community response to the epidemic here in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Our 28 paid staff and 300 volunteers trive to provide a comprehensive and integrated range of health promotion, education, and support services. British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society c/o Pacific AIDS Resource Centre 1107 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5S8 Tel: (604) 893-2200 or 1-800-994-2437 Fax: (604) 893-2251 Email: info@bcpwa.org Web: www.bcpwa.org BCPWA is a member-driven organization that promotes selfempowerment and health promotion by providing services and support to people living with HIV disease and AIDS. The key concept by which BCPWA defines itself is empowerment - the belief that those living with HIV must have the information and support necessary to maintain control of their lives. All of BCPWA’s programs and services help people to take charge of their lives. Services include: Peer driven counselling, up-to-the-minute information on treatments, Advocacy experts, General support. Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society 205-1104 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1V8 Tel: (604) 688-1441 Fax: (604) 688-4932 Email: information@youthco.org Web: http://www.youthco.org/ YouthCO is a peer driven organization. We strive to enable youth from all communities to address youth issues concerning HIV/AIDS by acting as a resource and facilitator for educational initiatives and support services. Services include: o Positive Youth Outreach Program (POP) o Support and advocacy by HIV+ youth for HIV+ youth o Educational programs: speakers bureau, workshops, training, resource development, theatre group, videos, cultural exchange. Pacific Aids Network Email: panrep@parc.org Web: http://www.pan.ca/ PAN is a member-driven network of more than 60 community-based AIDS organizations from across British Columbia. PAN is a consensus-based forum for communication, mutual support and collective action for HIV issues across the region.
alberta HIV Edmonton 10550 – 102 Street, Edmonton, A.B., T5H 2T3 Tel: (780)488-5742 Fax: (780)488-3735 E-mail : mail@hivedmonton Web: http://hivedmonton.com/ HIV Edmonton educates, supports and advocates for those infected and affected by HIV and related conditions. Its mandate is to provide education, support, harm reduction and advocacy for individuals infected and affected by HIV, through counselling and assistance, workshops, provision of harm-reduction supplies and the needle exchange.
AIDS Calgary 200, 1509 Centre Street South, Calgary, A.B., T2G 2E6 Tel: (403) 508-2500 Fax: (403) 263-7358 E-mail: info@aidscalgary.org Web: http://www.aidscalgary.org/ Since 1983, AIDS Calgary has helped people learn about, prevent and live with HIV/AIDS. Through their range of programs and services, they help those at risk make healthy choices and reduce the harm associated with HIV and AIDS. They also provide referrals to other service providers, and are actively involved in local, provincial, national and international organizations that are also addressing the issues surrounding HIVAIDS. Alberta Community Council on HIV Suite 200, 1509 Centre Street South Calgary, A.B., T2G 2E6 Phone: (403) 508-2500 Fax: (403) 263-7358 E-mail: acch@shaw.ca Web: www.ACCH.ca Recognizing that social change is a necessary response to HIV, the Alberta Community Council on HIV supports community-based responses and provides provincial leadership through collective action and a unified voice. Living Positive 10550-102 Street NW, Edmonton, A.B., T5H 2T3 Phone: (780) 488-5768 or 1-877-975-9448 Fax: (780) 424-4561 E-mail: livepos@telusplanet.net Web: www.telusplanet.net/public/livepos Living Positive is a coalition of persons with HIV infection providing tangible social support for fellow individuals living with HIV through the sharing of mutual experience, information, and insight, while promoting AIDS awareness, basic human rights and a positive attitude to HIV infected individuals in the community. HIV North Society 10108 - 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie, A.B., T8V 0V5 Phone: (780) 538-3388 Fax: (780) 538-3368 E-mail: info@hivnorth.org Web: www.hivnorth.org Through awareness, prevention, education, and advocacy, HIV North supports community based responses and provides leadership in the fight against HIVAIDS. All individuals and communities in Alberta’s Peace Country will have the ability, capacity, and inspiration to eliminate the harm caused by HIV. Society Housing AIDS Restricted Persons (SHARP) Foundation 530, #2, 3012 - 17th Ave. SE, Calgary, A.B., T2A 0P9 Tel: (403) 272-2912 Fax: (403) 272-9792 E-mail: sharp@canuck.com Web: www.thesharpfoundation.com The S.H.A.R.P. Foundation (Society Housing AIDS Restricted Persons) is a Calgary-based non-profit charitable organization with a mandate to provide affordable housing and care to people living with HIV/AIDS. Our purpose is to fill the gap when people are no longer able to stay at home and when a hospital is not a desired option.
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saskatchewan Saskatchewan AIDS Network Tel: (306) 373-2777 A coalition of community-based organizations in Saskatchewan dedicated to responding to HIV/AIDS
manitoba Manitoba AIDS Cooperative 342 Maryland Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 1L9 Tel: (204) 774-7722 Fax: (204) 774-7775 E-mail: aidscoop@escape.ca Web: http://www.mts.net/~aidscoop/MAC_home.html The Manitoba AIDS Cooperative is a network of community based organizations. Its mission is to ensure the design, development, and implementation of appropriate HIV/AIDS programs, services and policies for people living in Manitoba. MAC provides leadership, links member organizations, facilitates communication and initiates collective political advocacy. Northern AIDS Initiative 307-83 Churchill Drive, Thompson, MB, R8N 0L6 Tel: (204) 677 8552 Fax: (204) 778 5538 E-mail: NAI@digistar.mb.ca Web: http://www.northernaidsinitiative.mb.ca/ The Northern AIDS Initiative is dedicated to developing services for our Community, by working together with other mandated Organizations/Agencies and Community members to protect the future from the threat of HIV/AIDS. Sexuality Education Resource Centre Manitoba 2nd Floor, 555 Broadway Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0W4 Tel: (204) 982-7800 Fax: (204) 982-7819 719 Rosser Ave., Brandon, MB, R7A 0K8 Tel: (204) 727-0417 Fax: (204) 729-8364 E-mail: brandon@serc.mb.ca E-mail: info@serc.mb.ca Web: http://www.serc.mb.ca/ SERC is a community-based, non-profit, pro-choice organization committed to promoting universal access to comprehensive, reliable information and services about sexuality and reproductive health issues.
ontario AIDS Committee of Ottawa The AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO), a community-based, nonprofit organization, provides support services to all those affected by HIV/AIDS. http://www.aco-cso.ca/ Ontario HIV Treatment Network The Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) is an independently incorporated, not-for-profit organization funded by the AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health. The OHTN acts as a collaborative network of people living with HIV/AIDS, health care providers, consumers, researchers, community-based organizations, and government, with a mandate to provide leadership, and to advance policy relating to the optimal treatment and care of people living with HIV in Ontario. This searchable site includes a calendar of events, the organization’s newsletters, resources, HIV Infrastructure Network, investigator driven research, and priority initiatives programs. www.ohtn.on.ca
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toronto AIDS Committee of Toronto The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) is a community-based, nonprofit organization that provides health promotion, support, education and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by HIV/AIDS. http://www.actoronto.org/ Positive Youth Outreach If you’re between 13 and 29 years old and HIV-positive or have AIDS, we’re here for you! We are HIV-positive youth, offering free peer support services. We provide education about HIV, help with support and go to bat for you when you run into problems. Many heads are better than one. It’s nice to feel you’re not alone when things look bad. You’ll find out where to go for help, for financial assistance and medical information. We offer hope, answers and confidentiality. positiveyouth.com Casey House Hospice Founded in 1986, Casey House is a hospice for people living with AIDS in Toronto. www.caseyhouse.com/ Toronto People with AIDS Foundation Since 1987, the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation has been promoting the dignity and self-sufficiency of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS. The site includes general information, current topic information, benefits and assistance, treatment resources, speakers’ bureau, newsletter, employment opportunities, links, and more. www.pwatoronto.org
quebec Comite des personnes atteintes du VIH du Quebec (CPAVIH) Founded in 1987, CPAVIH is a community organization in Quebec whose mission is to represent people living with HIV, to provide information and support,and to defend their rights. www.cpavih.qc.ca
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
UNITED STATES new brunswick AIDS New Brunswick AIDS New Brunswick is a provincial organization committed to facilitating community-based responses to the issues of HIV/AIDS. The aim is to promote and support the health and well-being of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in New Brunswick. www.aidsnb.com
newfoundland AIDS Committee of Newfoundland & Labrador ACNL is a consumer-focused, non-profit organization that provides supportive programs and services aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS and supporting persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. We work on a collaborative basis with our partners, interested groups and stakeholders to achieve our goals. We demonstrate accountability by ensuring a competent, effective and transparent organization. www.acnl.net
nova scotia AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia ACNS’ mission is to promote and support the health and well being of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and to reduce the spread of HIV in Nova Scotia. www.acns.ns.ca AIDS Coalition of Cape Breton www.accb.ns.ca
prince edward island AIDS PEI AIDS PEI is guided by the principles of population health, primary health care through health promotion, and community development. The aim is to promote and support the health and well-being of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Prince Edward Island. www.aidspei.com
territories AIDS Yukon Alliance (867) 633-2437 (888) 333-2437 (toll-free)
AIDS Treatment Data Network The Network is a non-profit community based organization in New York City providing treatment counseling and referrals nationwide. www.atdn.org Being Alive Based in Los Angeles, Being Alive is a community organization of and forpeople with HIV/AIDS. It offers the programs such as outreach, information and referral, peer counseling, support teams, coping skills support groups, advocacy, and a newsletter distributed worldwide. www.beingalivela.org/ Project Inform Established in 1985 and based in San Francisco, Project Inform is a non-profit organization whose mission is: to provide vital information on the diagnosis and treament of HIV disease to HIVinfected individuals, their caretakers, and their healthcare and service providers; to advocate for enlightened regulatory, research, and funding policies affecting the development and delivery of effective treatments and to fund innovative research opportunities. Over 1,000 volunteers help to reach people at local, national, and even global levels. www.projinf.org Critical Path AIDS Project Based in Philadelphia, Critical Path AIDS Project was founded by persons with AIDS (PWAs) to provide treatment, resource, and prevention information in wide-ranging levels of detail — for researchers, service providers, treatment activists, but, first and foremost, for other PWAs. www.critpath.org Gay Men’s Health Crisis Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), founded by volunteers in 1981, is the oldest and largest not-for-profit AIDS organization in the United States. GMHC offers hands-on support services to 7,300 men, women and children with AIDS in New York City annually, as well as education and advocacy for hundreds of thousands nationwide. www.gmhc.org/ Growth House, Inc. Based in San Francisco, Growth House is a non-profit organization working with AIDS and other terminal illness issues. This web site is a comprehensive directory of reviewed links for terminal illness support, including hospice and home care, palliative care and pain management, grief, death with dignity, and related end of life issues. www.growthhouse.org/
INTERNATIONAL International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO) ICASO’s mission is to promote and support the work of communitybased organizations around the world in the prevention of AIDS and care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS, with particular emphasis on strengthening the response in communities with fewer resources and within affected communities. ICASO is based in Ottawa, Ontario. www.icaso.org
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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causing
a
On September 20 2003, over 80 youth from across Ontario gathered in downtown Toronto to take part in a workshop-filled day of anti-racist activism at Ruckus! 2003, Youth Action Network’s annual anti-racism conference for youth. The goal of this year’s Ruckus! was to reach out to young people of colour and concerned youth in Ontario, and provide a space where learning, sharing and actionplanning could take place safely and creatively. Over 10 activists of colour, representing organizations such as Toronto Native Youth (TNY), Black Youth United (BYU) and Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR), led stimulating and engaging workshops with a focus on community action and awareness. Workshops topics included, Native/Aboriginal youth issues, Immigration and Detention, Reparations, Anti-Oppression and more.
Above: Conference participants check out information booths of organizations
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Participants were then invited back to the Youth Action Network offices the following day for an intense action-planning session where they developed concrete project ideas to take back with them to their respective communities. Ruckus! 2003 was able to bring together many youth from Ottawa to Peterborough, to not only discuss and share their concerns on antiracism and social justice, but also create concrete plans to bring about change. Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
ruckus!
Interested in Ruckus? Interested in helping to plan the conference, or just want to attend? Give us a shout at 416-368-2277/1-800-718LINK or email us at general@youthactionnetwork.org for more details on Ruckus! 2004! Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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α
The Alpha and
Omega of Art Article and Artwork by Clifford Gnitecki
JOAN MIRO, THE GREAT SPANISH SURREALIST, once stated that one must “murder the painting” in order to progress in their work. The foundation of art itself is based on the notion of death and re-birth, old and new, creation and pastiche, and so on. There is the genius and the cannibal – one who creates and one who steals from him. We are living in what is considered the postmodern world - a world that is fragmented within its own confines. Here, we witness the death of this artistic genius on a daily basis, and hence, the death of individual greatness in art in general. In today’s art world, there is no face of art at all. We hear names floating around, but we forget these names, and their art is less than memorable (another problem). Also, note that there are no longer artistic movements existent in the “post – ism” world we live in. There is no longer a direc-
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tion or path to follow, and so unlike mediums such as the performing arts and music, there is no goal to achieve – for many there is nothing to pursue or try for. For today’s artist, there is no real attention to be garnered, no endorsement contracts, no fame to be won, and no money to be earned. Respect is one thing, but it can’t be everything. Part of the problem lies in the talent and minds out there in the art world – bleak, weak and powerless. Another reason for concern is the accessibility of art in general. It’s funny how it works, as both musicians and actors/actresses have the goal of achieving a contract and the necessary “push” to make it big, and that all lies in one word: MEDIA. People flock into museums to see art exhibits, but imagine how much more would show up if the exhibit was advertised as much as Gap jeans. This takes the subject back into the void in art – the face of art Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
is no longer existent in Postmodernism. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, and even Leonardo da Vinci received the proper attention and coverage from the media that existed in their time. All these artists were given attention because they were geniuses. So are we to assume that there are no geniuses any more? Did they all just die off? Not a chance. They’re out there, but are no longer being recognized. This problem is continually occurring because no matter what anybody does for attention, they are ignored by the camera lens. We all know that whatever the media stuffs down the public’s throat, they consume with glee, like pigs chewing on slop. All we need is the break. Someone needs to do something stupid. We have to shove it in their face, like Entertainment Tonight does. Maybe a stint on Fox TV would do the trick. With the proper ads, I bet at least 5 million people would watch. All it needs is attitude and a forceful nature. Betrayal and deceit, that’ll sell nicely. If all goes well, the art will sell faster than the autopsy on the artist is performed. It doesn’t have anything to do with art being the lesser medium, but with eve-
rything else being the overexposed medium. All that is really needed is the media to be successful – to be on the evening news, to be on gigantic billboards, to be on the cover of the National Enquirer, and so on. I’m not saying it will be easy, as it will take years and years – decades probably, but if we start now, then there’s no telling where it will take us. Ok, don’t get me wrong though. I’m not saying this just sound rebellious. I love art and I believe that is the sole component of the world that allows us to return to and reflect upon the true premise of life itself, which is to be – to exist. But it’s been in the shadows for far too long, and worst of all, it’s been in exile for no adequate reason. It belongs in the media’s eye and in the television sets of every home. We must essentially use one powerful media to carry another. Does this make sense? After all, art is one of the greatest traditions of humanity – of all time - and so, I just want to see someone – anyone, for that matter – return it to its former glory. However, my question to the world is: How can this be achieved? Or for that matter, is it worth achieving?
People flock into museums to see art exhibits, but imagine how much more would show up if the exhibit was advertised as much as Gap jeans.
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The second installment of excerpts and hints from
FIRE IT UP
Youth Action Manual
So…you’re tired of trying to fit into the community and school youth groups that don’t speak to you or interest you a heck of a lot.
Start the fire...
So…why not kick-start your own group and take some action on issues that are important to YOU? Here are some helpful hints on setting up a meeting for your group: 1. Organize a school or community meeting to get other people interested and involved. Pick a place: it could be your house, at school, a public library, or a community centre. Make sure it is wheelchair accessible, in a well-lit area, close to public transit (if you have public transit in your area). 2. Set a time when most people can probably come – e.g. after school, after work, lunchtime or a weekend. 36
3. Get the word out! Send a notice over email lists and to your friends, put up posters, make an announcement over the P.A., phone up people. 4. Set an agenda. Make a list of items you need to discuss and take action on. If possible, make copies of the agenda and/ or post it up somewhere in the meeting room.
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Cross-cultural communication
Use cross-cultural communication when you a r e s p e a k i n g w i t h , listening to or writing for someone who speaks a different language, or who has a different c u l t u ra l u p b r i n g i n g . This way, you can avoid misunderstanding and unneccessary conflict.
Networking
•When you organize an event or project, people are more likely to participate & to get others to do the same if they know & trust you •People are more likely to help you out with your organizing if they know & trust you. •You can get more widespread community support for your event/ project if you know people. •Save time, money & resources: you’d be surprised how much your friends & acquaintances can do for you. •Every person you come in contact with knows tons more people that can help & support you. •You can find out about awesome jobs, opportunities, scholarships, awards, etc. & get them through people you know.
What is a coalition? A coalition is a network of groups that have a common interest, goal or mandate and who come together to take action on a specific issue/issues
BURN BURN,, Baby, BURN Look out for installments of Fire It Up in future issues of FORUM! We’ll be sharing excerpts and helpful hints from YAN’s very own toolkit for youth action and change. Want to learn more? Want to get inside info on project planning, media and communications? Want to keep the fire burnin’ bright?
You want a copy of Fire It Up! Contact us at: Resource Action Centre c/o Youth Action Network 307-176 John Street Toronto ON M5T 1X5 Tel: 416-386-2277/1-800-718-LINK Fax: 416-368-8354 E-mail: rac@youthactionnetwork.org
YAN’s Resource Action Centre (RAC) is a practical database for youth to learn how to take action, with guides on fundraising and starting projects. Info on the environment, government, social justice, human rights, international affairs, and many other issues is also available. RAC can be accessed by phone, fax, email or mail.
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youth action network Ever wondered how you could make a difference? Had a plan to improve your community or country? Volunteering or activism is for you if you want to: o o o o o o o
meet new people have fun gain useful skills Y A get an advantage in the job market realize a goal inspire more dreams help others
FORUM OUTH CTION
Action Jeunesse
YOUTH ACTION NETWORK can help you realize the dream.
Do something. YOUTH ACTION NETWORK (YAN) was established by a group of enthusiastic young people in 1989. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating and empowering youth to take action on social justice and environmental issues. As a fully independent youth-run organization, YAN is committed esourcethat ction entre play an integral role in their communities. to ensuring young people
R
A C
Youth Action Connec-
YAN acts as a catalyst by stimulating youth to become socially aware. To this end, the organization operates four projects: Youth Action FORUM, Youth Week, the Resource Action Centre and Youth Action Connection.
your next move
YOUTH ACTION NETWORK 176 John Street, Suite 307 Toronto, ON M5T 1X5 CANADA
Phone: 416.368.2277 Fax: 416.368.8354 Email: general@youthactionnetwork.org Web: www.youthactionnetwork.org
could change the world
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Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Map
Annual Government Spending on HIV/AIDS Amount of government spending on AIDS treatments, drugs, and social programs (measured in US Dollars) Compiled by James Kwok
Canada $70 million in 2004 United States
$450 million
England $127 million France $182 million
China $12 million
Tanzania $22 million India $250 million pledged Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Australia Rica, Mexico, Peru $23 million and Uruguay South Africa $866 million combined $320 million over 3 years
Youth Action FORUM . SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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What is FORUM ?
C’est quoi FORUM ?
Youth Action Forum is a free magazine published by YOUTH ACTION NETWORK (YAN). YAN is a national, charitable organization helping young people take action on social and environmental issues. It is operated entirely by youth and coordinates three core projects: Forum, the Resource Action Centre, and Youth Week.
Forum Action Jeunesse est une revue gratuite publiée par LE RESEAU D’ACTION JEUNESSE (YAN). YAN est un organisme charitable dédié à aider les jeunes à s’impliquer activement au niveau social et environnemental. Il est dirigé entièrement par des jeunes et il coordonne trois projets : Forum, le Centre d’action et de ressources, et la Semaine de la jeunesse.
Each issue of Forum has two sections: The Special Section presents information and youth perspectives on a particular topic. The Context section comes from you, our readers --your ideas, opinions, and experiences with youth activities.
Chaque numéro de Forum contient deux sections : La section Reportage présente de l’information et des perspectives de jeunes sur un sujet. La section Forum vient de vous, nos lecteurs – vos idées, vos opinions, et vos expériences lors des activités de jeunes.
Youth!: Call 416-368-2277 or email forum@youthactionnetwork.org for a free subscription and show this magazine to your friends. Send us your articles, artwork, photography, poetry and letters. If you are a teacher: Forum is the best resource for connecting your students to youth across Canada. Forum also provides a national showcase for your students’ ideas and projects. Why not arrange a subscription for your library and bring forum to the attention of student leaders?
Les jeunes!: Composez le 416-368-2277 ou nous contactez par courrier forum@youthactionnetwork.org pour obtenir une souscription gratuite, et montrez cette revue à vos amis. Envoyez-nous vos articles, vos œuvres d’art, votre photographie, votre poésie, et vos lettres. Si vous êtes professeur : Forum est la meillure ressource pour établir une communication entre vos étudiants et les jeunes à travers le Canada, et Forum fournit une tribune nationale afin d’exposer les idées et les projets de vos étudiants. Pourquoi ne pas ammener Forum a l’attention de vos chef-étudiants?
If you are a librarian: Add Forum to your periodical collection or leave several copies displayed on an information table to make Forum accessible to your community’s youth.
Si vous êtes bibliothécaire : Ajoutez Forum à votre collection de périodiques, ou laissez plusieurs copies mises à l’étalage sur une table d’information afin que Forum soit accesible aux jeunes de votre communauté.
If you are an organization: Reach the most active, socially-minded young people across Canada by publicizing your organization, event, or service in Forum. Call us for more information.
Si vous êtes un organisme : Informez les jeunes les plus actifs et soucieux des problèmes sociaux à travers le Canada du nom de votre organisme, de vos événements, et de vos services en les publiant dans Forum. Contactez-nous pour plus d’information.
176 John Street, Suite 307 Toronto, ON Canada M5T 1X5