Participation of children and young people was a key element of the 2008 Global Partners Forum and an example of genuine consultation and dialogue. A one-day pre-GPF workshop with participation from UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman and Ireland Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power was an essential step to assist the young people to synthesize their views on overall priority issues and actions needed, as well as to identify regional differences, to be shared in the Forum. In the dialogue with Ms Veneman and Mr Power, young people highlighted concern about the on-going stigma children and families living with HIV face. They called attention to the particular difficulties young people encounter in disclosing their status and in gaining access to treatment and care services. The young participants also described ways in which children and young people are actively part of prevention efforts with at risk populations of young people.
