Advocates for youth most at risk of HIV exposure in Myanmar found hope for a new era of openness and improved access to policy-makers following a recent event in Nay Pyi Taw.
Leaders of young key populations shared their stories of discrimination and exclusion with representatives from the ministries of Health, Education and Social Welfare Relief and Settlement at a meeting co-organized by UNESCO on 28 May.
The meeting was the first of its kind in Myanmar between officials from the three ministries and YKP (those between the ages of 10-24 who are most likely to be exposed to or transmit HIV, including young men who have sex with men [MSM], transgender persons, people who inject drugs, sex workers and their clients, as well as people living with HIV.)
A young woman who was born with HIV shared her lifelong struggle, from being orphaned at an early age and the impact that had on her educational opportunities, to being forced to cope with HIV without information on the subject, family support or access to services.
University life was made miserable for a youth leader representing the MSM community by those who mocked him for doing outreach work on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and HIV-infected people drew the mockery of his fellow students.
“I was called HIV guy, even though I’m not infected with HIV – just because I was getting involved in HIV interventions,” he said.
Meanwhile, a transgender woman shared how she was kicked out of her home because of the way she identified and told when she applied for jobs that she couldn’t be hired because “it wouldn’t be appropriate”.
Another person who became infected with HIV due to drug use spoke of how early experimentation with drugs in university quickly spiralled from marijuana to amphetamine-type substances and finally to heroin. “I lost my social environment, my family and my friends,” he said.
The ministry representatives were impressed by the young people and the courage they showed in sharing their stories. One official from the Ministry of Health emphasized the vital role youth play in finding solutions to the problems presented at the session: “Youth know better than us so they are more effective in helping their peers,” he said.
The meeting was organized by UNESCO together with UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, Alliance Myanmar and the Myanmar Youth Star Network in collaboration with the ministries of Health, Education, and Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement. It was aimed at gaining a better understanding of the situation facing YKP and to strengthen coordination and responses for them, including for adolescents. Eight youth leaders from the Myanmar Youth Star Network and 11 senior ministry officials, including directors-general, were among the 34 participants.
UNESCO initiated and coordinated the meeting with partners and also provided technical support for it at the country and regional levels.
In his opening remarks, Dr Khine Mye, Director-General of the Department of Education Research, said that the Ministry of Education was committed to more comprehensive sexuality education to prevent HIV and promote sexual and reproductive health.
“Healthy learners learn better and better educated learners have the knowledge to be healthy,” he said.
Dr Khine Mye said the ministry is supporting young people through sex education that focuses on improving cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and risk assessment, as well as social and emotional ones, such as empathy. The overall aim is to help prevent HIV infection and adolescent pregnancy, while contributing to greater gender equality and ultimately sustainable development.
“[HIV programmes are] being implemented as a priority with high level political commitment,” said Dr Yin Thander Lwin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Public Health, in her opening remarks. She discussed how multi-sectoral approaches have been strengthened and legal reform workshops have been conducted with other ministries.
U Aung Kyaw Moe, the Director of the Department of Social Welfare, discussed his ministry’s “life cycle approach”, which recognizes different vulnerabilities at different stages of life. He also discussed the work the Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement has done to raise awareness and educate the public on sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention issues for youth.
Speaking on behalf of the joint advocacy team of the UN agencies represented at the event, Justine Sass, Regional HIV and Health Education Adviser for UNESCO, said: “There is no better time be strengthening adolescent and young key populations.” Recent guidelines from the WHO on “Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, treatment and care for key populations which include sections on adolescent and young key populations”, research from scientific journals, as well as a growing data set through the AIDS Data Hub for Asia-Pacific, are providing a solid evidence based for advocacy efforts to promote action for young key populations”, she said.
How best to take the goals of the meeting forward was also discussed. The Department of Health’s reproductive health working group, for example, suggested that an adolescent working group be set up and for findings to then be organized into a report to the ministries that attended the May meeting.
The meeting marked a historic first step in the country towards greater dialogue and openness, where ministry representatives were brought face to face with the young people in need of their support. UNESCO’s leading role in organizing and coordinating the event was praised by participants, who said the meeting demonstrated the tremendous potential of collaboration among government officials, UN agencies with the aim of improving the futures of YKP in Myanmar.
For more information, please contact: Pyi Pyi Phyo (pp.phyo@unesco.org)
Related Link:
Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations
