Young people (15-24 years old) living with HIV are a vital force to reversing the spread of HIV. As central figures in the HIV epidemic, they live their day-to-day lives with the virus, giving them first-hand experiences of the complexities of being both a young person and living with HIV. In most cases, young people living with HIV are just like other people their age with desires and dreams to live a fulfilled life.
In the global HIV response, young people living with HIV should be recognized as being self-determined agents, but this does not take responsibility away from governments, organisations and others to play a proactive role in supporting and engaging this diverse group. Actively engaging and supporting young people living with HIV in the global, regional and country HIV responses is the key to ensuring that we reverse the spread of the virus, realize human rights and achieve universal access targets.
