ICYO- Youth Information

No. 2009/36

(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)

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ICYO - Platform of 358 Youth Organizations in India.       

ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.

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Teens 'are ignorant' of safe sex to prevent HIV 

 

HALF the world's teenagers admit to being dangerously ignorant about HIV risks - and many do not use condoms, a study shows.

One in three youngsters does not believe that using protection stops the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, the survey says.

The scale of the youth ignorance follows the revelation that half of the world's new HIV infections are among 15 to 24-year-olds.

Alarmed health campaigners have now called for urgent improvements to sex education from governments, parents and teachers.

The least knowledge seems to be in south-east Asia, where 57 per cent of youngsters admit knowing little about HIV or Aids.

In contrast, 74 per cent of young Africans believe themselves to be wellinformed - despite sub-Saharan Africa having the world's highest Aids rate.

The research, involving 1,566 young people from 99 countries, was carried out by student organisation AIESEC International and Standard Chartered, which has an anti-Aids service.

A spokeswoman said: 'Myths, orthodoxy and a reluctance to learn basic facts are some of the biggest hurdles our HIV trainers face on a daily basis. This survey shows there is still a huge job to be done.' The results did not surprise sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust. Spokeswoman Lisa Power said: 'We know from our own research that young people in the UK want more information on sexual health.

'It's crucial parents, schools and the government all play their part.' While 33.2million are living with HIV across the world, 102,333 people in Britain have been diagnosed - including 4,207 children and teenagers.

Some 10,391 20- to 24-year-olds have been infected, according to the Health Protection Agency. (Source: The Push Journal)

Youth Information is published by

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)

194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang Enclave

New Delhi 110029, India

Phone: 91 9811729093  / 91 11 26183978 Fax 91 11 26198423

Email: icyoindia@... / icyo@...

Web:  www.icyo.in

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Our goal:
To improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in their programmes and activities

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
 CRIN, South Asia Youth Environment Network (SAYEN),

Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.