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August 2005
Advocates for Youth's Youth Activist Network Newsletter
Stop the Attack on Condoms: Fight for Comprehensive HIV Prevention in Uganda
Stand in Solidarity with Ugandan Activists on August 30, 2005!
The Ugandan government is holding at least 24 million condoms in government warehouses, creating a condom shortage and putting HIV prevention efforts in Uganda in great jeopardy. The silence of the Ugandan government regarding the importance of condom use and its complicity in supporting a U.S. funded abstinence-only-until-marriage approach to HIV prevention in that country is putting millions of Ugandans at increased risk for HIV. Ugandan activists are standing up to their government. They seek international solidarity to ensure that Uganda's successes in fighting the HIV epidemic are not lost because of the misguided and harmful policies of the United States or of their own government.
Support Ugandan Activists, and Take Action Now!
1. Send a letter to the Ugandan Embassy urging the government to release the condoms, stop funding unproven abstinence only programs, and resist U.S. pressure to change the Ugandan model of success. This alert is no longer active.
2. Sign on to a community action letter from the people of Uganda in support of their demands to the government. Send your name, title/organization (if any),and address to ugandaaction@his.com. Individual and organizational endorsements are welcome.
3. Mobilize for the Global Day of Action on August 30, 2005. For information on actions in Washington, DC, contact naina@advocatesforyouth.org. For information on actions in New York City, contact salynch@healthgap.org. To organize an action in another city, contact salynch@healthgap.org
Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit
Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit provides information on creating safe space for young people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Because homophobia is a real problem, for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) and straight youth, this online toolkit is intended to assist you in:
- Educating Youth to Understand and Support Their GLBTQ Peers—The nuts and bolts of building allies for GLBTQ youth. Pick and choose from 12 lesson plans.
- Redressing Homophobia and Creating Awareness among Your Staff—A blueprint for creating safe space in your organization. Read tips and strategies on what you can do.
- Becoming a GLBTQ Ally Yourself—Additional resources on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Online at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/safespace/
Amid Mixed Indicators, Teen Birth Rate Continues Downward
National trends in child well-being are no longer improving in the rapid and sustained way they did in the late 1990s, according to the 2005 Kids Count Data Book. Five out of 10 indicators of child well-being have worsened since 2000. These findings are in stark contrast with data in last year’s Kids Count study that showed eight out of 10 key indicators improving between 1996 and 2001. At the same time, the 2005 Kids Count Data Book reports good news in three areas: the high school dropout rate has fallen significantly from 2000 to 2003; the percent of children in single-parent households has leveled off; and the teen birth rate continued downward in 2002.
In 2002, New Hampshire had the lowest teen birth rate at 20 per 1,000 females 15 to 19 and Mississippi had the highest (65 per 1,000). To see your state’s ranking, visit http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/sld/compare_results.jsp?i=10&dt=4&&va=3&s=n
To order the 2005 Kids Count Data Book and other related materials free-of-charge from the Annie E. Casey, visit the Foundation Web site at http://www.aecf.org/ or call 410.223.2890.
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
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