Patricia is from Uganda. She is representing the Guttmacher Institute's Protecting the Next Generation Project at the conference.

I have just attended yet another interesting and very informative session at the International AIDS Conference here in Toronto, where a panel of five came and shared their experiences about working with young people. This session was of interest to me, as it highlighted a number of issues similar to what I do with my organization in Uganda. The youth have come out strongly during this IAC with a strong call to their governments, richer nations and big organizations to provide more support to help them realize their dream: an AIDS-free generation.

I come from a country where the government has made tremendous efforts in trying to reduce HIV infection from about 31% in 1993 to 6.4% in 2005. But one thing still remains, the youth are still at highest risk of infection and yet little or no effort in some areas is being made to make youth friendly services available to young people. Many young people are unable to access services available in the local area health facilities because they either don't have money or fear judgment from the health service providers.

Also a change in message from a strong ABC (Abstain, Be Faithful, use Condoms) to ABY (A and B only for youth) on the basis that the former confuses young people, has not helped much. We cannot ignore the fact that while many young people want to abstain, various circumstances make it impossible. For example, among the internally displaced people's camps in Northern Uganda, and even before resettlement there, many suffer sexual abuse. A sense of hopelessness is felt by many, who feel there is no need to abstain, after all, you don't know what tomorrow brings, and so you might as well live your life in the way you see fit. For many this means having sex when, how often and with whom you want. If we ignore such a situation and prefer to talk about what pleases us, denying them the right information – especially about safer sex – is only making the problem bigger.

I believe at the end of the conference, we the youth should unite, come out with a stronger voice and pressure our government to put emphasis on youth friendly interventions in the fight against AIDS – not only at the lower levels, but right from the process of programme development. We should start talking now, then talk again and talk often. I look back at the fear of a young girl I talked to who told me HIV is like the mind, it keeps blowing in all directions and however you avoid it, it always gets you. But I believe after this conference, we have the power and ability to help this young person and many others overcome this fear and look forward to a happy and meaningful life.