JEPARA, INDONESIA – A recent initiative in Jepara Regency brought together community leaders, parents, and youth to address the rising rates of HIV infection and combat persistent stigma surrounding the disease. The November 28th event, hosted by the Jepara Regency’s Department of Women’s Empowerment, child Protection, and Family Control, featured an educational session led by women and children’s rights advocate Jeanette S. Listiyani. With an estimated 1,685 people currently living with HIV in Jepara, the program aimed to empower residents with knowledge about prevention, transmission, and the importance of support for those affected.
JEPARA, INDONESIA – A recent educational initiative in Jepara, Central Java, aimed to bolster community understanding of HIV and AIDS prevention, emphasizing the importance of empathy, knowledge, and action. The program, led by women and children’s rights advocate Jeanette S. Listiyani, targeted participants from youth peer education groups (PIK-R), youth forums (ForGen), and family welfare programs (BKR).
Listiyani, who also serves as a support officer for victims of crime (SSK LPSK) in the Jepara region, presented the educational session during a positive parenting orientation for adolescents, hosted by the Jepara Regency’s Department of Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Control (DP3AP2KB) on Friday, November 28, 2025.
The event brought together adolescents, parents, educators, and community leaders, fostering a comprehensive approach to building understanding across generations. This multi-generational approach is crucial, as HIV prevention and care require a broad societal response.
Listiyani emphasized that families play a role equal to that of adolescents in preventing HIV transmission, reducing stigma, and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for children and teens. “Adolescents and families must work together,” she stated. “We all have the same responsibility: to understand HIV correctly, protect the rights of children, and stop the stigma that has hurt so many victims.”
During her presentation, Listiyani highlighted the HIV situation in Jepara, which estimates 1,685 people living with HIV (PLHIV). New cases reported throughout 2025 included younger individuals and family members, demonstrating that HIV is not solely a concern for adolescents but a broader community issue. “We must also be aware of the ‘iceberg phenomenon,’ where the reported numbers are only a fraction of the actual situation,” she explained.
“Life is always bigger than stigma,” Listiyani asserted. “With empathy, knowledge, and small actions, we can protect ourselves, our families, and those around us.”
The educational session covered key topics including the differences between HIV and AIDS, proper transmission and prevention methods, the importance of HIV testing (VCT) for adolescents and adults, the rights of people living with HIV, including confidentiality, the crucial role of PIK-R, ForGen, and BKR as education, support, and health information dissemination agents, and the urgency of empathy in daily interactions to prevent discrimination against people living with HIV.
As a symbol of collective commitment to combating HIV stigma, the event concluded with the distribution of red ribbons to participant representatives. The red ribbon serves as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in supporting people living with HIV, spreading accurate information, and creating a more caring and inclusive environment.
Organizers hope the initiative will strengthen collaboration between youth and families in Jepara, promoting health awareness and encouraging responsible utilization of health services.
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