Ministerial Declaration “Preventing through education”

1. Ministerial Declaration“Preventing through education” 1st Meeting of Ministers of Health and Education to Stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean Ministry of Health of Mexico Ministry of Education of Mexico Ministry of External Relations of Mexico

2. Background • MDG 6: HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases • UNGASS Declaration of Commitment • Universal access: • HIV prevention, treatment, care and support • HIV in Latin America: mainly transmitted by sex • 20-25% of new HIV infections among 15-24 y.o. • School programs: positive impact (HIV and STD prevention) • Knowledge, skills and attitudes: impact on self-efficacy • Important changes in behavior SOURCES: Magnani, Seiber et al. 2001; Speizer, Magnani et al. 2003; Fernández, Kelly et al. 2005; Kirby, Obasi et al. 2006; Kirby, Laris et al. 2007, Lule, Rosen et al. 2006; UNICEF,2009

3. Background • Synergy between Ministers of Health and Ministers of Education • IEC necessary to halt the HIV epidemic • Effective information (healthy life styles) • Educational programs (competencies and skills: health-care) • Lack of information and education: • Vulnerability to HIV and risky behaviors • Non- empowered vulnerable groups • Stigma and discrimination • Schools and health services based interventions on sexuality health and education • Global public good

4. Objectives • Comprehensive sexuality education • Strategic tool: stop HIV transmission • Shared commitments: Ministries of Health and Education • Universal access to HIV prevention: adolescents and youth • Reduction of stigma, discrimination and homophobia • Adolescents – youth living with HIV / different sexual orientations • Regional inter-ministerial work alliances and networks • Strengthening HIV preventive response • Strategies to improve skills of teachers and health workers on HIV prevention

5. Participation of 30 Ministries of Health

6. Participation of 26 Ministries of Education

7. Products • Regional Diagnostic: “Sex Education for HIV Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean” • Current status of LAC countries governments responses • Input for the Ministerial Declaration • Ministerial Declaration: “Preventing through Education” • Approved by acclamation

8. Legislationregardingsexualityeducation in schools Source: Sex Education for HIV Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean : Regional Diagnostic(2008). National Institute of Public Health of Mexico. First edition, jJuly, 2008.

9. Officialschoolsexualityeducationthatpromotecondom use Source: Sex Education for HIV Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean : Regional Diagnostic(2008). National Institute of Public Health of Mexico. First edition, jJuly, 2008.

10. Integration of children living with HIV intotheeducationalsystem Source: Sex Education for HIV Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean : Regional Diagnostic(2008). National Institute of Public Health of Mexico. First edition, jJuly, 2008.

11. Ministerial Declaration“Preventing through Education”

12. Human rights Kids, adolescents and youth wellbeing Health right (prevention, attention an care) Sexual & reproductive health Educational Rights: quality education LAC HIV/AIDS context Fighting against stigma, discrimination: homophobia Multisectoral and multidisciplinary work: Planned & coordinated Ministerial Declaration: Framework

13. Legal and technicalinternationalsupport

14. Main intervention areas • Intersectoral strategies on comprehensive sexual education and sexual health promotion • Evaluation of the educational curriculum • Updating of contents and methodologies • Training of Education and health workers • Active participation of community and families, including adolescents and youth, on the development of programs • Friendly health services • Universal access: HIV, AIDS, STI and sexual and reproductive health

15. Main intervention areas • Work with media and civil society • Team-work with executive and legislative bodies • Mechanisms to report discrimination in health and educational • public or private services • Allocation and mobilization of resources for rigorous impact evaluations • Dissemination of the Declaration and progress on its follow-up: • Nationally, regionally and globally

16. Goals • By 2015*, to reduce by 75 per cent the number of schools under the jurisdiction of the Ministries of Education that have failed to institutionalize comprehensive sex education; • By 2015*, to reduce by 50 per cent the number of adolescents and young people who are not covered by health services that address their sexual and reproductive health needs appropriately. * To be achieved by 2015 in alignment with MDGs

17. Steps forward • Establishment of a regional intersectoral group: fellowship of commitments (as suggested on the declaration by the 3.15 agreement) • Local, regional and international dissemination • Establishment of intersectoral formal working groups • Agree a definition of “comprehensive sexual education” • Strategic planning towards 2015 • Surveys: knowledge on sexuality and sexual behaviors • Diagnosis and evaluation of preventive and educational programs, materials and methodologies. • Mobilize and allocate resources: governments (all levels), OSC and international development agencies

18. Intersectorial Regional Work Group • Montego Bay, June 4th, 2009: • Endorsement of continued work with the technical working group • Technical group • Flexible and lean structure • Clear mandate • Executive Secretariat • Regional Representation/coordination: • Caribbean • Mexico, Central America, Cuba and Dominican Republic • South America • Immediate task: • Inventory of national action, to re-direct actions