Onwards and Upwards
Dear Friends,
From advocacy, intensive programming and a robust strategic planning process, this quarter has been extremely busy and exciting for the ATHENA team.
The last 3 months have been jam-packed with activities. Driven by renewed commitment for gender equality and guided by the pursuit of a new strategic direction for the network, ATHENA has implemented a dynamic agenda and program. In terms of advocacy , we plugged into HLM advocacy at the national, regional and global levels, participated in the 2021 IAS conference and hosted virtual dialogues that explore bold and dynamic SRHR & HIV advocacy subjects. We created spaces for open and inclusive dialogues for AGYW in their diversity while still remembering to pause, relax and recharge. As a team and network, we are driven by our vision of advancing gender equity and human rights in the global HIV response.
Highlights from the HLM on HIV/AIDS#PressureOn #WeAreHLM #WhatGirlsWant #WhatWomenWant #FeministFuturesHIV |
The High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS was held from 8th June-10th June 2021 to review the progress made in reducing the impact of HIV since the the last UN General Assembly high-level meeting on HIV and AIDS in 2016. ATHENA was plugged into different spaces throughout the meeting including a Thematic Panel and a Prevention side event. At the end of the meeting, the Political declaration on HIV/AIDS: Ending Inequalities and Getting on Track to End AIDS by 2030 was adopted by UN member states which was a great success. |
Our path to #FeministFuturesHIV before and during the HLM on HIV/AIDS |
Ahead of the HLM, we put together a newsletter highlighting all the work done in preparation for the HLM. This includes our work as part of the Multi-Stakeholder Task Force for the HLM, country consultations with AGYW and drafting the Young Feminist’s Declaration outlining our collective call to action for the 2021 Political Declaration and beyond. |
HLM 2021 Prevention side event
On 8th June 2021, our #WhatGirlsWant Focal Point person for Tanzania, Dr. Lilian Benjamin Mwakyosi was one of the speakers at the HLM 2021 Prevention Side Event ‘No Prevention, No End! How Leadership for HIV Prevention can turn an epidemic’ .
HLM-Thematic Panel 4
The theme for this Panel which took place on 10th June 2021 was ‘Advancing Gender Equality and Empowering Women and Girls in the AIDS Response’. Irene Ogeta ATHENA Network’s Program Officer for Young Women’s Advocacy, spoke on the the priorities to address gender discrimination and intersecting inequalities and marginalization.
Youth Voices at the HLM on HIV/AIDS
On 11th June 2021, ATHENA Network and #WhatGirlsWant focal point for Zambia, Afia Simpande, in partnership with Global Network for People living with HIV (GNP+), International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW), Global Network of Young people living with HIV (Y+ Global) and Aidsfonds International hosted a twitter chat focusing on; Youth Voices at the HLM on HIV/AIDS.
Our Engagement at the Generation Equality Forum
#ActForEqual #GenerationEquality #EducationPlus
The Generation Equality Forum took place in Mexico City in March and in Paris from 30 June – 2 July 2021. The Forum launched a 5-year action journey to achieve irreversible progress towards gender equality. In the lead up to the GEF, the ATHENA network came out with tweets that were a call to action for governments, civil society, and other key decision-makers. Additionally, in collaboration with young feminist leaders, ATHENA took part in the #ActForEqual Campaign, which provided a space to amplify personal issues in the gender equality fight.
The Education Plus Initiative
We are excited to announce that ATHENA has just joined the ‘Education Plus’ Initiative
The ‘Education Plus’ initiative is a high-profile, high-level political advocacy drive to accelerate actions and investments to prevent HIV. It is centred on the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women and the achievement of gender equality in sub-Saharan Africa—with secondary education as the strategic entry point.
Refining our Strategic direction for ATHENA 3.0
With the transition and transformation of the ATHENA Network into a fully African led and located global Network underway, we have been working on our Strategic Framework for 2021-2024.
This process has allowed our key stakeholders – our core team members, our country focal points, our Advisory Board members, individual supporters, partners and donors to contribute to our strategic planning process.
Our Strategic Plan is set to be launched at the end of September and will outline our vision for ATHENA 3.0 for the next 3 years. STAY TUNED!!
The Day of the African Child: Dialogues on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for African Girls
In celebration of the Day of the African Child on 16th June 2021, in collaboration with ARASA, ATHENA hosted a Zoom tête-à-tête; an intentional space where activists, allies, and feminists from all over Africa from varying age groups and diverse backgrounds gathered for an open and inclusive dialogue on the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of African Girls.
International Aids Society(IAS) Conference on HIV and ScienceThe 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science took place from 18th- 21st July 2021. As the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research, this conference presents the latest advances in basic, clinical and operational HIV research and facilitates the critical discussions needed to move science into policy and practice. Our Associate Program Officer for Young Women’s Advocacy, Irene Ogeta was a panelist in the discussion on ending inequity, ensuring accountability: Report from the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV (June 2021). Her remarks focused on the necessity of an intersectional lens to address gender equality. | |
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International Youth Day#WhatGirlsWant and #WhatWomenWant : Feminist Action for Climate Justice! #YouthDay #FoodSystems |
The theme for International Youth Day this year was “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”. To commemorate this day, ATHENA provided a platform for Adolescent Girls and Young Women to voice out their expectations, thoughts and aspirations for youth to transform #FoodSystems. |
