AIDS & HIV, International & World Politics, Diseases, International Relations, Sexuality 

Strengthening young people's ability to protect themselves and engaging them as a positive force in fighting HIV/AIDS are critical to turning the tide of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. All too often, information alone is provided to young people. Interventions that centre on information and knowledge do not suffice in the face of deep-rooted values and peer pressure that increase young people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Life skills are a set of psychosocial competencies that enable young people to think critically about health risks, communicate effectively and make responsible decisions that impact on their health. UNESCAP has been working with national partners to actively promote peer-to-peer life skills training under its project entitled "Integration of youth health concerns into non-formal education: focus on HIV/AIDS in Asia". This project is a response to the HIV threat in the Asian and Pacific region which now accounts for one in every five new infections in the world. The epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is fast shifting from Africa to the ESCAP region. This book aims to address two questions: Why life skills? And why peer education? It presents an overview of young people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection and illustrates how the life-skills approach could enhance young people's competency in responsible decision-making to minimize high-risk behaviour. It also examines key elements that contribute to the success of peer education programmes. - from Amzon