Supporting the goals and ideals of "National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day".

This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of "National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day", recognizing the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on young people aged 13 to 24. It highlights that this age group accounts for a significant percentage of new HIV diagnoses and faces challenges in care retention and viral suppression, particularly among African-American youth and young gay and bisexual men. The resolution underscores the importance of investing in the health, education, and leadership of young people to combat the epidemic effectively.

To address these challenges, the resolution advocates for several key actions. It promotes up-to-date, inclusive, and medically accurate HIV education, including information on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), within sex education curricula. Furthermore, it urges the removal of scientifically inaccurate HIV criminalization laws and calls for youth-friendly, accessible healthcare services, including access to PrEP, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) without parental consent. The resolution also supports increased funding for critical HIV programs and emphasizes a comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy that empowers youth and stakeholders to reduce stigma and discrimination.

Finally, the resolution calls for a generation free of HIV stigma, prioritizing youth leadership and development in all aspects of HIV/AIDS response. It also recognizes that legislative efforts restricting youth bodily autonomy, such as bans on abortion, birth control, and transgender healthcare, negatively impact access to non-stigmatizing HIV prevention, education, and confidential testing and treatment, thereby increasing the risk of criminalization for young people.