2007 Policy Priorities: Time to Deliver
Mobilizing Science, Programs, and Resources to Stop New Infections

9. Support Responsible Sex Education.

CHALLENGE: Federally funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs exclude information about reproductive health, censor teachers, often provide inaccurate information about topics like HIV risk, and deem contraception "dangerous." Research shows that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs could actually harm young people by discouraging condom use, leading to higher-risk behaviors when they do become sexually active. Young people comprise over a quarter of reported HIV diagnoses and represent greater than a third of STD infections. Sex education programs should counsel youth about the benefits of abstaining and provide medically accurate information about condom use, HIV, STDs, relationships, and sexual health.

SOLUTION: The Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress must support increased funding for age-appropriate, comprehensive, and medically-accurate sex education in schools, and eliminate funding for abstinence-only education.

10. Expand HIV Prevention and Treatment Worldwide, with Special Focus on Women and Girls.

CHALLENGE: The global toll of HIV/AIDS in 2006 included a staggering 4.3 million newly reported HIV infections and 2.9 million AIDS-related deaths. These numbers will climb without concerted efforts to expand human rights and HIV prevention education, condoms, sterile syringes, and HIV-related healthcare worldwide. Marriage, economic dependence, poverty, physical and sexual violence, inadequate educational opportunities, limited access to contraception, and the challenge of negotiating condom use factor heavily into elevated HIV risk for women and girls. It is essential to ensure that global health programs empower women and girls, and all people, in the fight against HIV, without imposing abstinence-only education requirements that are not culturally relevant or effective.

SOLUTION: Congress must:

• provide at least $1 billion for the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria;

• enact the Microbicide Development Act to speed research into new topical products women and men could use with or in place of condoms to prevent HIV transmission; and

• pass the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (PATHWAY Act).

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Introduction

Ten Steps to Prevent New HIV Infections

Federal and State Legislative Agenda

The Comprehensive Agenda

Illinois HIV/AIDS Statistics