One town in Colombia is taking a unique approach to preventing youth pregnancy and AIDS among its young people. In the western Colombia town of Tuluá, when police stop any male, age 14 and over, not only will he have to show his identification papers, but he will have to show that he his carrying a condom too. Not carrying a condom can carry a fine of up to 408,000 pesos, about 180 dollars. Needless to say this move is creating controversy, leading some religious leaders to say this move and other safe sex strategies being implemented across Colombia including the installation of condom vending machines are akin to “selling weapons on street corners”. According to the United Nations, 19% of women age 19 and younger are mothers or pregnant in Colombia and Colombia has 190,000 reported cases of HIV infection, making it the #2 country in Latin America in terms of HIV infection, behind Brazil.

Via / El Diaro/LA PRENSA