Building Young Key Populations Movement in Papua New Guinea

Building Young Key Populations Movement in Papua New Guinea

In 2024, the Key Population Advocacy Consortium (KPAC) has an opportunity to strengthen the YKP organization in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Youth Lead PNG, by engaging them with Youth LEAD Asia Pacific (AP) for a series of organizational strengthening projects.

According to UNAIDS Data published in 2023, 26% (1.700) new HIV infections are among the young people aged 15 - 24 years old, out of the total new HIV infections of 6.500 cases. This data shows an increased number of new HIV infections among young people at an alarming rate, compared to 2015 and 2010, as shown by this chart below.

Source: UNAIDS. 2023. Papua New Guinea Country Data

To respond to this situation, Youth LEAD visited PNG to facilitate a series of capacity building, attended by 30 young key population members of Youth Lead PNG.

The first visit was carried out in 30 September - 4 October 2024, with Ikka Noviyanti, the Regional Coordinator of Youth LEAD facilitate a traning on YKP issues, including SOGIE, harm reduction, sex work, and HIV 101. Throughout the 3 whole days, participants were familiar with the basic foundation of YKP issues and movement around the globe, including in PNG.

The second visit was carried out in 5 - 7 November 2024, with Agatha Syailendra Hamdan, the Project and Networking Officer of Youth LEAD facilitated refreshment sessions from the first training, with new topics such as violence, systemic oppression as a root of discrimination, capitalism, and organizational & movement management.

Through these 2 trainings, Youth Lead PNG and its members have discussed the specific issues faced by YKP in PNG, both as a community and organizations, and have developed a specific action plan to not only strengthen the Youth Lead PNG as an organization, but making sure that Youth Lead PNG is recognized nationally as the YKP network, to lead the HIV program for YKP.

As a reflection, it is very important to build, strengthen, an sustain YKP movement in our region, because the numbers of new HIV infections, along with law barriers and systematic poverty are targeting YKP in Asia and the Pacific, so a movement is really important to help YKP achieve life quality that allows them to be a great leader.