T&T Youth Supported by UNFPA to Participate in International AIDS2024 Conference in Germany

UNFPA in Trinidad and Tobago recently supported Kimberly Springer, a dedicated advocate in the HIV response and a member of the UNFPA Youth Advisory Group (YAG), to participate in the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS2024) in Munich, Germany. Invited by the International AIDS Society to join the Global Village working group, she brought her national, regional, and international experience to the global stage.

As the youth representative for the Trinidad and Tobago Community for Positive Women and Girls Living with and Affected by HIV, Kimberly has been deeply involved in various advocacy campaigns and projects. Her dedication earned her a position on the board of the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV, representing the Caribbean, and a scholarship to attend the AIDS2022 conference in Montreal, Canada, where she spoke on behalf of the Caribbean region.

At AIDS2024, Kimberly actively participated as a member of the Munich Youth Force and contributed to UNAIDS youth campaigns. The conference, themed "Put People First," focused on prioritizing individuals in the fight against HIV. The Youth Pavilion underscored the importance of youth leadership in the HIV response, with panels addressing gaps in services for adolescent girls and young women, and exploring the  impacts of climate change on HIV.

In the Global Village, Kimberly engaged in sessions on the  financial challenges women face in the HIV response and participated in discussions advocating for reproductive justice and gender-transformative approaches. She also attended the U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) debate, which examined the ethical considerations of HIV disclosure in the modern era, and joined inter-generational dialogues that highlighted the importance of collaboration for a sustainable future. 

Kimberly's involvement in AIDS2024 showcased her unwavering commitment to the HIV response. She continues to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable approach to tackling the global HIV epidemic, bringing valuable insights from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean to the international community.