The critical need for youth and people living with HIV (PLHIV) to take an active role in the HIV response is recognized in key global documents. Many of these have been endorsed by a large number of countries, for example the Principle of Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (known as the GIPA principle) from the 1994 Paris AIDS Declaration and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS from the 2001 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS). Likewise, key documents from large global HIV networks recognize the role of youth and people living with HIV, such as the 2010 Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) framework from the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and UNAIDS.

YPLHIV are a diverse group; sometimes the only thing that YPLHIV have in common with each other is their HIV status. This is also true when it comes to getting involved. Some YPLHIV are already involved in the HIV response and want to find their next step. Other YPLHIV want to figure out how to get connected to the HIV response in the first place. And yet other YPLHIV don’t want to put their energy and ideas into the HIV response but would rather focus on other things that matter to them.