AIDS in JAPAN -Basic Information and Coomunity Activities in Japan

HIV/AIDS and Youth in the Japanese Society

-Our Challenges Today-

This article does not necessary reflect all of the views in the communities

1. Present state of Japanese youth¹ and HIV/AIDS

The new infections of HIV in Japan is concentrated in the twenties and thirties. The main cause of infection is sexual contact, and there are number of problems such as early sexual behavior and unsafe or unprotected sex, and the increase of teenage abortion and sexual infectious diseases. According to the report of the AIDS surveillance committee in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, new reported number of HIV infected patients reached 171 cases in 3 months between April and July 2005. Based on age, men and women in their twenties held about 34% (58 cases), of the total. Women in their twenties are estimated to be about 43% of the accumulated number of newly infected females, and men in their twenties held about 31% of the total men living with HIV. There were 17 reported cases of AIDS patients in the twenties in 2004, and they are assumed of having being infected in their teens, suggesting the spread of HIV to the younger generation.

Under such circumstances, in the late 1990s, the government took up young people as one of risk groups. Today, in addition to general enlightening activities, there is a common understanding in the academic field of the importance of implementing activities in different levels and sectors to meet the needs of youths effectively. The activities are such as a cooperation with a countermeasure of sexual infections, the use of "peers," educational field, and cooperation with NGOs. The development of the content and methodology of such programs has just started, based on the actual conditions.

2. Present Situation of Youth Groups

We, youth, are not only the target of AIDS policy but also active participants of the society. Today, there isn't any nation-wide youth organization. However, in holding the 7th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Japan in 2005, the youth forum committee coordinated a network for activists, established in 2002. As a result, it received contact from more than 33 youth groups across Japan by the time the conference opened in 2005.

The contents of activities include sex education, LGBTIQ, children, women, Health workers and international cooperation. Some organizations are a part of existing NGOs, some are high school clubs and college circles, and others are voluntary groups. The methods used for HIV prevention are mainly peer education, self-help and buddy activity in a small group, "delivery lessons" to high school students, and performances targeting a large number of students and public. There was a group that specialized itself to provide specialized information about medical treatment. Yet, there were few groups engaged in advocacy compared to those seen in other countries.

3. Challenges for the Youth

Throughout these activities, it has become clear that in the general public, there is a lack of awareness and indifference about HIV/AIDS, a social problem. One of our concern is the gap of access to resource, service, and information among some areas and groups. This becomes a problem when there appears a difference in skill-building opportunities for youths, and it is also an educational problem for youth. Seeing from the condition where there is an overflow of sexual information from media and early sexual behavior, self-decision making skills is necessary to aquire. Thus, it is crucial that school provides appropriate sexual education or life skill education as a preventive measure against HIV/AIDS.

There is a tendency to consider it as a taboo to speak openly about the nature of sex culture and sexuality. It is important that youths consider stigma or discrimination amongst themselves. For example, infected patients and certain minorities can have difficult time to speak out.

4. Approaching from a Human Rights Perspective

The importance of youth issues is that each one is related to human rights at the basis: that we are ensured a healthy life, physically, mentally, and emotionally. All young people can make a claim against the right to access to education, information and services, as well as reproductive health rights. From its nature, AIDS is not only an infectious disease but also an issue related to sexual culture. Preventive education promotes a challenging action to speak about the issue openly with one another. "Youth and HIV/AIDS-friendly society" is one where each one's human right is respected. In such case people can become open to others whether the topic concerns a positive or negative aspect of their life. In the future, it may be possible to interact with young people concerned about human rights, not only limiting to the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Learning from countries with more experiences in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, including their effective practices has been at the center of attention in Japan. At the International Conference on HIV/AIDS in the Asia and the Pacific held in Kobe in 2005, the discussion of foreign youths focused on suggestions and proposals towards the AIDS issue in Japan, and also the problems concerning the AIDS policy in the Asia/Pacific. When youths come together, it is important to reflect on the individual"s cultural, ethnic background and gender values, and to set the human rights issue at the baseline of discussion. When this practice, in addition to advocacy is realized, can bring forth effectiveness in the AIDS policy.

¹ The UN definition for "youth" includes those between 15 and 24. They also define those between 10 to 24 as "young people" and 10 to 19 as "adolescents." However, the age division and definition varies among nation and areas.

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