Conducted in Spanish and English, the consultation took place over a 4-week period. Each week, facilitators posted 3 or 4 questions in both languages to which participants responded. The following week, facilitators posted a weekly summary of responses, and questions for the next week.

During the first week, the e-consultation focused on identifying the current needs of youth in the HIV pandemic, the status of youth involvement in the participants’ home countries, and explored what governments could do to prevent the spread of HIV.

During the second week, participants delved further into these issues, grouped together themes, and then moved into recommendations for the conference and YouthForce’s advocacy strategy.

Finally, the third and fourth week’s discussions focused on possibilities for peaceful initiatives, specific advocacy tools, resources, events and activities, and ways to appeal to decision-makers. Participants were also able to add additional thoughts or topics that may have been missed in the previous weeks.

The overall content that emerged from the e-consultation will be woven into 4-5 key advocacy messages and an advocacy strategy for the YouthForce during the AIDS2008 conference. The messages will appear on a wide variety of large posters, banners, t-shirts, stickers, post-cards, and other materials.

The Mexico YouthForce is a coalition of youth-led and youth-serving HIV and AIDS organisations who are working to empower young delegates and promote youth participation around HIV and AIDS before, during and after the XVII Mexico City International AIDS Conference. It is coordinated by Ave de México, Advocates for Youth, Global Youth Coalition on HIV and AIDS, TakingITGlobal, and Youth Coalition. The YouthForce is organised into six subcommittees comprised of 75 members representing a diverse array of youth-focused HIV and AIDS organisations and networks.

Read the report:

• E-Consultation YouthForce Report (PDF 248.69 kB)
• E-Consulta de Incidencia Política de la FuerzaJoven de México (PDF 279.78 kB)

Related link:

• YouthForce website