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HIV/AIDS has taken a "heavy toll" and "transformed the lives" of many of the world's 1.1 billion young people, even though they now have greater access to education and information than ever before, the UN has said.
In its 408-page "World Youth Report 2003", released on 27 April, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), said as many as 7,000 young people were infected with HIV each day.
To help curb the spread of HIV, UNDESA recommends the implementation of "youth-friendly" health services, education and communication campaigns, and the improved treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, which increase the risk of contracting HIV.
"For those designing prevention programmes for youth, it is also very important to remember ... HIV eventually spreads through sexual transmission. Therefore, all young people need information on the risks of sexual transmission and means of protection, even if the region is not currently experiencing a sexually driven epidemic," the report states.
Access the full report:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/wyr/
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions