AFRO-NETS> Eastern and Southern African Symposium on Young Women and HIV/AIDS

[Janet Feldman <kaippg@earthlink.net>]

Eastern and Southern African Symposium on Young Women and HIV/AIDS
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27 - 29 November 2002
Nairobi, Kenya

Announcement and Call for Papers

Theme: 
HIV/AIDS, Education and Youth Survival: Perspectives and Priorities


INTRODUCTION
The Kenya Oral Literature Association (KOLA) and Strategic Initia-
tives for Development (ST.R.I.DE) are glad to announce the holding of 
the Eastern and Southern African Symposium on Young Women and 
HIV/AIDS. The event is organized as part of the preparations for the 
Second International Youth and Students Conference on HIV/AIDS 
(IYSCA). It seeks to promote the active participation of young women, 
young women's organizations, universities, NGOs, and government in-
stitutions.

The symposium will bring together young women from academic institu-
tions in the region, gender-based organizations, NGOs, Donors and 
governments to reflect on the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on 
young women and to design strategies for greater practical action to 
combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among young women. Young women in aca-
demic institutions are arguably Africa's hope in terms of enhancing 
gender-responsive development, thus justifying the need for such an 
event.

Participants will be drawn from Uganda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Sudan, 
Rwanda, Burundi, Lesotho, Namibia and Ethiopia. Others include Zam-
bia, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, 
Seychelles, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the 3-day Symposium include the following:
* To provide a forum for networking, sharing of knowledge, experi-
  ences and ideas on initiatives to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on
  young women.
* To promote cross-country exchange of best practices for implement-
  ing women-friendly health services in academic institutions in Af-
  rica.
* To identify and develop specific actions that can be implemented to
  support young women affected by HIVAIDS.
* To prepare young women to participate in the 2nd International
  Youth Conference on HIV/AIDS scheduled for June 2003.

DATES AND VENUE
The Workshop will be held in Nairobi, Kenya between 27th and 29th No-
vember 2002, to coincide with the World AIDS Day Celebrations.

SYMPOSIUM THEME AND SUB-THEMES
The symposium theme is: "HIV/AIDS, Education Youth Survival: Perspec-
tives and Priorities". The Symposium will focus on the following sub-
themes:

Sub-theme 1: Young Women and AIDS

* The emerging picture
* Implications on development
* Comparative country analyses
* The situation in Academic Institutions
* The situation in countries

Sub-theme 2: rethinking solutions to problems of young women in re-
ducing HIV/AIDS

* HIV/AIDS and young girls out of school
* Integrating HIV/AIDS awareness in vocational training for girls and
  women
* The problems of the girl-child
* HIV/AIDS orphans
* Problems of High School girls
* Problems of girls in college

Sub-theme 3: Impact of HIV/AIDS on Girl Education

* Responses by NGOs
* Responses by Academic Institutions
* Responses by Research Institutions
* Responses by Donors

Sub-theme 4: Gender-based Violence against Young Women and HIV/AIDS 
upsurge

* Causes of gender violence on Campus
* Combating gender-based violence against young women in Institutions
  of learning
* The security system in universities
* Re-defining Freedom in Universities
* Role of Universities

Sub-theme 5: Mentoring for a Brighter Future

* The place of young professionals in HIV/AIDS challenge
* Developing support mechanisms for infected and affected young women
* Career advisory services
* Tackling un-employment

Sub-theme 6: Young Women's Priorities and HIV/AIDS Scourge

* Human rights and reproductive health
* Women-friendly services
* Lobbying and advocacy mechanisms
* Developing supportive framework in universities
* Student organizations
* Policy Issues
* Issues of Donor support

ABSTRACTS
Abstracts of not more than 300 words should be sent to the address 
below before 15 September 2002. The Abstract should include the fol-
lowing information:

* Issues: a short statement summarizing the issue(s) addressed by the
  Abstract
* Description: A brief description of the project, experience, ser-
  vice, research and/or advocacy
* Conclusions and Lessons Learned: A brief description of the results
  of the project or the major conclusions of the project
* Recommendations: A brief statement of the next steps

Complete papers should be sent to the undersigned by 15th October 
2002.

REGISTRATION
Participants will be expected to seek funding for their own travel 
and accommodation costs. A registration fee of US$ 50 will be levied 
on participants to meet some of the administrative costs. A limited 
number of participants will be supported to attend the event. Accom-
modation costs are estimated at US$ 40 per day.


For more Information and Registration Forms please contact:
W. Kaikai
The Symposium Secretariat
P.O. Box 13542-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel.: +254-2-245-311
mailto:kola@todays.co.ke 
or 
mailto:strideve@hotmail.com

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