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Hundreds of youths commemorate World Aids Day in Harare
Zimbabwe Youth Forum
December 09, 2008

The Youth Forum joined the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day on Saturday the 6th of December. The Youth Forum mobilized more than three hundred youths at Rutendo Hall in Mufakose, Harare, to remember the day through displaying the suburb's beauty under the young women's proposed theme 'Ready to Shine' and this year's theme 'Zimbabwe Proven Leadership in HIV Prevention, Scale up Treatment, Care and Support Now'. The young people came from around the suburb to witness a beauty pageant in remembrance of the 1st of December. A procession of 10 glamorous young ladies dressed in red and wearing red ribbons depicting their concern for the pandemic paraded on stage and gave powerful messages on HIV/AIDS inter alia the socio-economic effects of HIV/AIDS and the role that young people can play in eradicating the virus. The young women stood proud to display the beauty of the nation and called for all young people to play a pivotal role in protecting the girl child as she is more vulnerable to the pandemic.

"We as girls are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and it is now worse considering the current economic hardships when some girls are forced into early marriages and prostitution as a copying survival strategy. The child headed families and child labour is also on the increase and young women are the main victims of these challenges. There is need for a multi-sectoral approach to curb the pandemic and respect the rights of the girl child', commented 17 year old Charmaine who was crowned Miss 2008.

The contestants urged all youths to take control of their lives and shine than waiting to perish.

"It is non but ourselves to look forward to", added Charmaine. They also urged other young people to get tested and know their status so that they can live positive on whatever their HIV status may be.

The Youth Forum had on the 5th and 6th this month jointly with the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ) had a discussion forum in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence in Harare Gardens . The discussion mainly centred on the country's Domestic Violence Act which many of the discussants found necessary but worried that the act is not known by many. Some women who attended the discussion however lamented that the Act cannot successfully benefit victims due to high levels of corruption in the law enforcement agents. The women called for an urgent political settlement as the first step towards the effective use of the Act.

The Youth Forum will not tire in its efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and gender based violence using arts and other forms of edutainment as reiterated by Cont Mhlanga (a legendary PlayWright) that 'art is the only tool that amplifies people's voice'. This platform creates entertainment at the same time educating the youths as well as getting diverse opinions from youths from a variety of backgrounds thereby enriching our endeavor to promote youth participation in development and policy formulation.

Meanwhile, The Youth Forum is deeply rattled by the callous abduction of Jestina Mukoko, a mother and director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, one of the leading human rights advocacy groups. We view the abduction of Jestina Mukoko by suspected state security agents as a true negation of the spirit of the Global Parties Agreement by the ZANU-PF government. As young people we will continue to fight and defend the rights of all citizens to life.

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