Despite these bleak statistics, tremendous strides have been made in the fight against HIV. AIDS is no longer a death sentence for most of the world. More people are on treatment than ever before and we are at a point where we can now realistically talk about an AIDS-free generation and the beginning of the end of AIDS. But young people are slipping through the cracks.

decrease in deaths from HIV since 2008.
but for one group
there was actually an
increase
In South Africa, where CTAOP primarily works, there is a combination of challenges along with the normal pressures of adolescence. These challenges are complex and include gender inequity, high crime rates, lack of cohesive family units, high incidence of rape and sexual misuse, misinformation or lack of information about HIV, chronic unemployment, lack of access to health services, and the stigma that surrounds the disease.