Who says all AIDS Activists are birkenstock-wearing, dred-locked,
granola crunching, organic hippies? Ok, well… maybe some of them.

One of the least mentioned facets of International AIDS Conferences
are the incredibly creative t-shirts. Well, wait no further, fabulous
fashionistas… I've profiled some of the best and punchiest shirts
around, just for your discerning sense of style. Not only are they
catchy and cute, they also advocate for crucial HIV/AIDS issues at the
Conference and beyond such as sex workers' rights; comprehensive,
evidence-based sexual and reproductive health information, education
and services; funding for youth interventions, and a LOT on condom
use.

CHECK them here
http://files.tiggroups.org/35186/got_AIDS.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35187/how_do_you_know.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35188/if_he_wont_you_dont.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35189/sex.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35190/sex_back.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35191/sex_nice.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35192/sex_workers_shirt.jpg
http://files.tiggroups.org/35193/some_with_none_without.jpg



PS- if you want a t-shirt or posters, check back on the site in a week or so to find out how to order them!

Joya Banerjee- Program Coordinator of the Global Youth Coalition on
HIV/AIDS and Co-Chair of the Advocacy TaskForce of the Toronto
YouthForce

We so often hear the same false promises about "youth participation" at conferences and events such as these. Key decision makers who promote youth involvement often don't employ any young people and think that a two-day consultation once a year is enough. If a young person doesn't work for your organization, how can s/he advise you on how best to improve your policies and programmes? The result is often lofty ideals that can't really be implemented and don't get implemented, and adults are left with the dissatisfaction and belief that youth involvement is just another politically correct idea.

This year at the Conference we're trying to do something different. We're bringing decision-makers, not just famous ones, to a Commitments Desk where they can put, in writing, what they will commit and by when they will achieve the commitment. And we'll be following up with them.

You can read some of the commitments here on our site. This week Mark Wainberg (Conference Co-Chair), Mary Robinson the former head of the High Commission on Human Rights, Tim Thomas the ED of MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates, the Crown Princess of Norway, and others made commitments. Others were from teachers committing to creating an awareness and advocacy group to talk to elemtary school kids about gender discrimination and homophobia. The Coordinator of the Ministry of Health in Guyana committed to training 300 peer educators.

If you are here and see a decision-maker, please bring her/him to the commitments desk and speak to him/her about why youth involvement makes a difference.

If you are not, you can still talk to decision-makers in your country about what we are doing and get them to make a time-bound commitment to youth.

Joya Banerjee- Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Toronto YouthForce