On Sunday August 13, a strong contingent of youth and global leaders gathered to participate in “From Rhetoric to Action: Defining a Stronger Role for Youth in National and International Policies”, a forum used to facilitate discussion about commitment, action, and involvement.

The theme of the morning was strongly voiced by Dr. Peter Piot, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, who believes strongly that youth must be at the table in all discussions concerning HIV/AIDS. This sentiment was echoed by Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages in Canada, who firmly stated that “leadership has no age limit,” a testament to the work of all on stage.

Julian Bond, the Chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, used the comparison of apartheid to the battle against HIV/AIDS. He believes that “the battle against ignorance is our biggest challenge,” since like racism, customs, superstitions, and prejudices are the social stigmas that will determine who will live and who will die.

As each adult leader rose to give their addresses to the audience, it became apparent that they are all proud youth allies, determined to listen and not afraid to make big promises. Joya Banerjee, 24-year-old co-founder of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, bluntly asked of the adult leaders to identify specific and concrete commitments they are making to youth and when they would expect to make good on their promises, wisely adding, “we will be following up on these with you.” The three remaining adults showed great integrity in bringing their rhetoric to a close and finally proposing solid steps for action. From Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, First Lady of Honduras, youth are ensured an open space for participation in the coalition of first ladies and women in politics. From Dr. Peter Piot, an internship in the UNAIDS secretariat will be created. Dr. Julio Frenk promises the number of youth present at the next International AIDS Conference will be doubled, as it has since the last conference in Bangkok.

Caitlin Padgett, a founding member of the Youth Network for Harm Reduction International, reinforced the necessity of diminishing the rhetoric used around youth and HIV/AIDS, thanking Dr. Piot for using youth-friendly words such as ‘syringe’ and ‘condom.’ International documents are written in a language that is the result of compromise, and thus are “written in the language of no one,” Dr. Piot joked, which is why it is critical that “all AIDS programs pass the youth test”; they must be determined by and directed toward youth.

Her Excellency, Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, opened her speech by saying that “you, the youth, are the greatest hope for humanity,” but humanity is comprised of a great spectrum of diversity, for which the global fight against HIV/AIDS requires steady intergenerational partnerships and dialogues.