Youth Venture India

3 Responses to “Vikas - CHANGEMAKER”

1. 

   Vikas
   

   06. Nov, 2009

   “I visit your blog frequently and its very good , especially was very interesting. I am not a expert webmaster but i like your blog as its very simple and understandable.. please keep it up , 10/10 marks…”
2. 

   vikas
   

   26. Mar, 2010

   Youth and HIV/AIDS

   In India people in the age group of 15-29 years comprise almost 25 percent of the country’s population; however, they account for 31 percent of AIDS burden. This clearly indicates that young people are at high risk of contracting HIV infection.

   What Makes Youth Vulnerable?

   Physiologically, young people are more vulnerable to STIs than adults; girls more than boys. Gender imbalances, societal norms and economic dependence contribute to this risk.

   Lack of access to correct information (almost 73 percent of young people have misconceptions about modes of HIV transmission), tendency to experiment and an environment which makes discussing issues around sexuality taboo adds to their vulnerability.

   Vulnerable groups

   Most young people become sexually active during adolescence. In the absence of right guidance and information at this stage they are more likely to have multi-partner unprotected sex with high risk behaviour groups. Particularly vulnerable are impoverished, unemployed, under-employed, mobile/migrant youth, adolescents in sex work, young injecting drug users and street children as they are faced with high risk behaviour in their everyday life. They are also less likely to have information on the risks of contracting HIV and means of protecting themselves from the infection. Such youth may face repeated risk of HIV infection through sexual exposure due to coercion or other compulsions.

   Young women are biologically more vulnerable to HIV infection than young men – a situation aggravated by their lack of access to information on HIV and even lesser power to exercise control over their sexual lives. Early marriage also poses special risks to young people, particularly women. This is especially relevant for India, where almost 50 percent girls are married off by the time they are 18 years of age.
3. 

   vikas
   

   26. Mar, 2010

   The Fundamental Rights embodied in the Indian Constitution act as a guarantee that all Indian citizens enjoy rights such as equality before the law, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, and the right to constitutional remedies for the protection of civil rights.

   They are aimed at overturning the inequities of past social practices. They have been used to successfully abolish untouchability; prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth; forbid trafficking in human beings; and protect cultural and educational rights of minorities.

   It does not matter if an individual is affected or infected by HIV. “There can be no valid or effective response to HIV/AIDS without respect for the human rights, fundamental freedom and the dignity of human beings.”

   Three of the most important rights in the HIV scenario include:

   Right to Informed Consent

   The implications of HIV are very different from most other illnesses. Testing for HIV requires specific and informed consent of the person being tested and any research on data of HIV positive people.

   Right to Confidentiality

   A person has the right to keep information on HIV status confidential. People with HIV are often afraid to go to court to vindicate their rights for fear of their HIV status becoming public knowledge. However, they can take the help of Suppression of Identity under a pseudonym. This ensures that PLHA can seek justice without fear of social ostracism or discrimination.

   Right against Discrimination

   The right to be treated equally is a fundamental right whether it’s something as simple as using a public well or something more serious like denial of housing.

   You can seek remedy in a court of law if you are tested for HIV without informed consent, or your confidentiality is breached, or any of your rights have been violated. You have the support of the legal system to ensure it.

   For more details, please contact

   National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)

   website: http://www.nacoonline.org

   Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit

   website: http://www.lawyerscollective.org,

   Mumbai - Tel: 022-22875482/3, email: aidslaw[at]lawyerscollective dot org

   New Delhi - Tel: 011-24377101/2, email: aidslaw1[at]lawyerscollective dot org

   Bangalore - Tel: 080-41239130/1, email: aidslaw2[at]lawyerscollective dot org