The theme of the Fifteenth International AIDS Conference, "Access for All," is a reminder that all people-regardless of their age, religion, socioeconomic status or geographic location-need access to balanced information and education about HIV/AIDS. Young people are a big part of the "all" in "access for all," since half of new HIV infections occur among people aged 15-24. A majority of those infected are girls.

Seventeen thousand delegates from 160 countries attended the conference's opening ceremonies on July 11 and participated in sessions throughout the 6-day event in Bangkok, Thailand. Among them was the Bangkok YouthForce, an international network of youth activists and adult allies from many of the regions hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Youths representing the Bangkok YouthForce, the African Youth Alliance, and UNICEF submitted daily reports on conference events from their perspective, giving voice to a generation growing up with the global epidemic. This daily roundup of conference highlights summarizes some of the youth reports.

July 11, 2004
Speeches marked the opening day at the conference and presenters included Meeting co-chair Dr. Joep Lange, Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Each applauded conference delegates' efforts and commitment to fighting global HIV/AIDS. Prime Minister Shinawatra told attendees that he would fight global HIV/AIDS "by donating a million dollars each year for the next five years."

Before opening ceremonies, protesters from the Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group marched to the conference center to demand access to medications for all six million people infected in South and Southeast Asia, as well as access to condoms and clean needles for those who inject drugs. "We need wealthy countries to donate money immediately, so we can treat the people and we can prevent transmission of infection," said one group member.

A highlight of the day for one Bangkok YouthForce reporter was a speech by former U.S. president Bill Clinton, who described the importance of youth involvement in global HIV/AIDS efforts, mentioning that he was "deeply impressed and inspired" by the 2002 YouthForce, who participated in the last AIDS Conference in Barcelona. He also described his new HIV/AIDS Initiative which will "help expand access to care and treatment in the developing world … Young people have played an important role and will be pivotal to our efforts moving forward."

At the close of opening ceremonies, Prime Minister Shinawatra and UN Secretary-General Annan lit a unity candle in honor of the more than 20 million people worldwide who have died from AIDS. Approximately 37.8 million more are currently living with the virus.

July 12, 2004
Day two began with disagreement when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told attendees that the "first line" of defense against HIV is "abstinence and faithfulness in marriage," and when he called condoms "an improvisation-not a solution." Ugandan researcher Millie Katana argued that such an approach is akin to "water[ing] down" HIV prevention, an especially dangerous tactic when "lives are at stake."

U.S. actor and advocate Richard Gere also spoke, reiterating the need for government funding to fight AIDS. But he cautioned that "money without intelligence, without wisdom, is useless." In other words, there has to be a coherent prevention, treatment, and education plan behind the money.

July 13, 2004
Day three focused on patients' access to medication. While pharmaceutical companies and advocates disagreed over the best way to provide millions of people with proper and affordable medication, both groups believe there is a need to improve access to these medications.

African Youth Alliance delegates reported that youth advocates and leaders converged at the IAC to "demonstrate against the failure of decision makers and politicians to include young people in their strategies and decision-making" processes. Some youths were angered that, unlike Clinton, Secretary General Annan did not highlight youth in his speech at the conference.

July 14, 2004
Activists made their presence known on day 4 during U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Randall Tobias' opening remarks. Daily protests against the U.S. and other Group of 8 countries-Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the UK-occurred throughout the conference. Protestors had many complaints, including skyrocketing drug prices, lack of funding for programs in countries hard hit by the epidemic, and some governments' emphasis on abstinence as a main prevention strategy.

Women and youth were a key focus during the conference; together they represent the majority of new HIV cases in many areas of the world. In her article from the conference, Peer Educator Regina Kacwamu reported on a youth-led session on global justice that "pointed out that youth voices/efforts [are] critical in the fight against HIV/AIDS, because youth are the adults of tomorrow."

She added that young people "are particularly more vulnerable, and they know the issues and have great ideas as to how HIV/AIDS can be prevented." And she called on all young people to act on their rights to "access youth-friendly services, [which include] a supportive environment free of stigma and discrimination."

July 15, 2004
With the end of the conference drawing near, the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged 50 million dollars to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria.

Activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela called for even more funding. Mandela, who has battled TB, urged all attendees to make TB as much of a priority as AIDS, since approximately one-third of AIDS patients die of TB. "We can't fight AIDS unless we do much more to fight TB as well," he said.

Researchers brought the focus back to women, whom they said need more HIV-prevention options. Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, of the Maryland-based International Partnership for Microbicides, explained why HIV infections among females are rapidly rising. "For women in many parts of the world, being poor, young, and married are the most significant risk factors."

When women-including young women-are assigned low importance in a society, it can affect how they protect themselves. Dr. Rosenberg said that in many countries, "a woman's status makes it impossible to insist her partner use condoms or be monogamous." She advocates for more women to have access to microbicides, topical virus killers that women can use before having intercourse with a man.

July 16, 2004
The final day centered on the need for a united global front to fight HIV/AIDS. In a speech to attendees, Dr. Helene Gayle of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said she "hope[d] we leave here having put an end to diverse debates about abstinence, monogamy, or condoms, when we need them all and more." She also urged everyone, young and old, to remember "we can change men's behaviors and empower women at the same time" and to "fight AIDS and fight poverty."

The Bangkok YouthForce and other youth delegates will continue their fight, too. To learn more, click here [OPEN NEW WINDOW FOR THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://www.youthandhiv.org/].

Cassie Wolfe, 20, of Lakewood, NJ, is an editorial intern at SEX, ETC., the national newsletter and Web site written by teens, for teens, on sexual health issues, published by the Network for Family Life Education at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

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