Young women are one of the most powerful driving forces to overcome HIV and AIDS. Time and again, we have seen
that the health and wellbeing of young women are at the centre of building strong and thriving communities. Yet, many young women remain unprotected, vulnerable, unduly affected and at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, simply because they are young and women.

This fact sheet discusses the challenges of young women and what international treaties could help in holding governments accountable for improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young women.

This briefing paper was developed by young people living with HIV. It outlines several key issues, considerations, challenges and recommendations for policy-makers, NGOs, young people, people living with HIV and other actors in the response to HIV to help us all build a supportive and enabling environment for young people living with HIV to realise their rights.

The youth friendly fact sheet on the linkage between HIV and SRHR is now available, please find the link to download it below!

Globally, almost a quarter of people living with HIV are under the age of 25. Furthermore, 45% of all new HIV infections are
among young people aged between 15 and 24 - while experts estimate that fewer than 40% of young people living with HIV
and AIDS know their HIV status. It is important to recognize the needs of young people as well as the vital role they play in halting and reversing the epidemic. Young people need accessible, affordable, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) services, including HIV services.

Universal access is the global commitment to make HIV prevention, testing, treatment, care and support services available to all those in need. This fact sheet gives an overview of why this is important for young people, what needs to be done and how young people can contribute to achieving universal access.

Injecting drug use is one of the fastest and most common HIV transmission routes in some regions of the world. A significant number of people who use injecting drugs worldwide are between 15 and 30 years of age.

In many countries the transmission of HIV can be a criminal offence. This fact sheet discusses the aspects of criminalisation and its alternatives.

The International Conference on Population and Development has a strong focus on reproductive health and rights and has been revolutionary in linking HIV and young people in a sexual and reproductive health and rights context. This factsheet discusses the significance of this conference for HIV and young people.

Below you will find youth-specific factsheets on topics such as universal access, criminalisation, harm reduction and ICPD. Others will be coming soon. Please check back!

This document was developed as an outcome of the youth campaigning consultation "Youth Organisations on the Road to Universal Access', convened by the World AIDS Campaign in Amsterdam in January 2008. Participants at the consultation identified a need to investigate the sustainability of youth-led organisations and develop recommendations for diverse stakeholders to support sustainable youth leadership.

"Youth Leadership: Recommendations for Sustainability" provides insights into the importance of youth-led organisations and the unique challenges that youth-led organisations face, followed by concrete recommendations on how all actors can best support and facilitate youth leadership.