Preventing HIV/AIDS and promoting sexual health among especially vulnerable young people

Abstract

This document reports on an expert group meeting on young people's sexual health. The good practice guide introduces practitioners, policy-makers and researchers to two distinct but related concepts - risk and vulnerability. The guide explores how gender, race, culture, sexuality and social status all influence young people's experiences of sexual relationships and makes some more vulnerable to poor sexual health.

Using case studies from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, this resource sets out guidelines to inform work with especially vulnerable young people (including young people who sell sex, young people who inject drugs, and young migrants and refugees).

The expert group meeting was attended by NGO and other project workers from all over the world. These projects and their experiences are described. The final section of the report consolidates lessons learned from these projects and the meeting. These include
- consideration of the complexity of young people's vulnerabilities
- holistic and multi-levelled programmes work best
- existing positive behaviours often exist and should be strengthened
- evaluation and evidence based programming is necessary
- young people's involvement at all levels is essential
- programmes should be fun and encourage a sense of pride in involvement
- different responses are needed for young people of different genders, backgrounds and nationalities
- gendered and rights based approaches are seen to be successful
- governments are responsible for taking action but the involvement of NGOs and CBOs is essential, where these work together, success is greatest
- programmes that focus on outreach and service accessibility have been most successful.

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