Feature Articles

Youth Voices and Rights

Ref Number: ACSE2010_YV

  • Date13 Aug 2010
  • Category Articles
  • TargetsN/A
  • AuthorYouth participants @ ACSE 2010
  • Topic Sexuality Education

At the closure of the 4th Asian Conference on Sexuality Education, a group of youth participants called upon policy makers and decision makers from government and different communities to actively address SRHR of young people and promote comprehensive sexuality education among young people. Let's share their feelings, opinions and recommendations, and their words might provide insights for youth services providers and educators:

 

Why We are Here? Why Important to Invest Young People

Youth population is a large population in our society.

Young people also occupy the main population, which affected by sexual transmitted disease. For example, 45% new infection of HIV happens among young people who are 15-24 years old.

Young people are the best people  who know what they need and what they want to know.

Young people deserve sexual rights as one of the basic human rights.


Unmet needs

Diversity of young people. Geographical constraint and network.

Lack of youth participation in policy making and decision making process related to young people’s SRH Issues.
Financial constraint.

Not all schools share the same sexuality education due to religions and culture barrier.

The violation of young people’s right of privacy and confidentiality in terms of access to sexuality information and education.

Young people are not empowered and strong enough to speak up and talk with adult about their sexuality
Young people’s rights to access to sexuality information and education are not recognized and protected.

There is lack of  youth friendly information and resources for young people.

There is no policy at country level around comprehensive sexuality education


Recommendations

Adults who work for young people should involve young people into all level of their programmes, from design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Lobbying to the education department to develop the comprehensive sexuality education curriculum for young people regardless of religion and culture;

To build a basic community based guideline on comprehensive sexuality education from bottom top approach for young people in general;

Extended communication based trainings for all levels, including health providers, teachers, policy makers, parents and young people;

Sustainable programmes for young people and by young people;

Develop national policy/laws on CSE based on the CSE guideline developed by UNESCO with sustainable funding;

Protect young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the rights of privacy, confidentiality, as well as the rights of meaningful youth participation into policy making and decision making level;

CSE is not for young people in schools but for young people out of schools, who are marginalized by our society;
Provide mentorship to young people, empower them and build leadership to make sure young people could speak up about their own sexuality issues.

 

We urge you all take one of those recommendations back to your work and promote CSE among young people.

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US!!!