Did you know more than 40 per cent of new HIV infections occur in young people aged 15-24?

Visit the International Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Consortium (ISRHR Consortium) Hub - a dedicated hub in the Global Village for discussing issues around sexual and reproductive health and rights, and HIV.

Burnet is a founding member of ISRHR Consortium - a partnership of non-government organisations committed to advancing universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, with a focus on Asia and the Pacific.

Burnet’s Dr Elissa Kennedy will be in the Booth at various times during the conference discussing her work to improve young people’s access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services in Asia and the Pacific.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV

• HIV and conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth are the two leading causes of death of women of reproductive age
• More than 40 per cent of new HIV infections in 2010 occurred among young people aged 15-24 years
• Globally young women have infection rates twice as high as young men
• One in three women experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime
• Millions lack access to essential SRH services:

   - 222 million women have an unmet need for effective contraception 
   - A third of pregnant women living with HIV do not have access to 
     interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission or reduce 
     their own risk of HIV-related maternal mortality
  

• Many young people lack access to comprehensive sexuality education
• Only a third of young men and 20 per cent of young women have comprehensive knowledge of HIV.

The International Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Consortium

Vision:

They are committed to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of race, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, religious or political beliefs can enjoy the highest attainable standard of sexual and reproductive health. This includes the right to pursue a satisfying sex life free from discrimination, coercion and violence, and free from the risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmissible infection and HIV.

What they do:

Their members work in more than 100 countries, bringing together diverse technical, policy, programmatic and research expertise in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Collectively, they advocate for increased political and financial investment in sexual and reproductive health and rights – recognising that this is central to the equitable achievement of global health and development goals, including gender equality, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

Click here for more information about ISRHR Consortium.