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National Assembly House Chairperson for Committees, Oversight and ICT, Mr Cedric Frolick, says the power and influence that young people have in being advocates for change in lifestyle and choices when dealing with HIV and Aids must not be underestimated.

Mr Frolick was speaking at an intergenerational dialogue - facilitated by UNAIDS (South Africa Country Office), in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education and supported by the South African National AIDS Council – with learners and students representing Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, on the importance of advocacy in dealing with HIV/AIDS.

“We must not underestimate the power and Influence that young people have in our society in being advocates for change in lifestyle and change in choices. The deliberations that are currently taking place between the Members of Parliament and these youth representatives led by the UNAIDS and representatives from the Department of Basic Education are key so that we can push forward with the agenda so that our young people understand their role and function in society. Parliamentarians,  too, must be constantly aware of the changed behaviour and matters that affect them directly as far as their health is concerned broadly, and HIV/Aids specifically,” said Mr Frolick.

The purpose of the dialogue is to boost the visibility of the Education Plus Initiative (EPI) by amplifying the voices of young women and youth with an emphasis on capacity building on advocacy; as well as strengthening their engagement in co-creating the initiative through discussions with communities, leaders and the broader public.

The EPI, launched by the Deputy Minister for Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule in March this year, is aimed at stepping-up investments in a holistic, multi-sectoral approach around the core elements of female empowerment and gender equality. It focuses on critical enablers through a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, ensuring that girls complete quality secondary education through investments for the roll-out of free universal access, as well as ending discriminatory policies, laws and practices that deny girls their right to education. Secondly, educational systems will be leveraged as strategic entry points for advancing gender equity and the empowerment of all adolescent girls and young women by 2025. 

“HIV AIDS is still part of the challenges that we face in the country and especially amongst young people. So today we bring together parliamentarians from the committees on Health, Basic Education and Higher Education and Innovation so that Members of Parliament and other stakeholders especially the youth can engage directly on where we are in fighting HIV/Aids and also what further needs to be done,” said Mr Frolick.

The learners informed the MPs of the various barriers to quality education that they faced in the schooling environment which includes lack of access to menstrual health services, no access to contraceptives or being forced to take contraceptives without proper explanation of the side effects and related risks, lack of proper infrastructure including laboratories and sports facilities, lack of security due to no fence around the perimeter of the school, substandard feeding schemes or none at all in some schools, amongst others.

The dialogues target political leadership at the national and provincial levels, traditional and faith-based leaders, urban and remote communities, and young people across the country through bilateral and multilateral meetings. The Initiative unites the efforts by UN institutions including UNICEF, UNESCO, UN Women, UNFPA and UNAIDS.

Issued by Parliament