Young people get in the Zone

JOBURG – Young people get in the zone for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

A networking zone at the 20th International Aids Conference in Melbourne will champion the place of young people when it comes to efforts on sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV – Unveiled by the International Planned Parenthood (IPPF) and United Nations.

South African icon, musician and humanitarian, Yvonne Chaka Chaka offically opened the Zone on 21 June.

Beyond the epidemic, young people face barriers in accessing contraception, and complications linked to pregnancy and childbirth are the second leading cause of death for girls between the ages of 15 to 19 globally.

The Coolibah Young People’s Leadership in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Networking Zone will provide young people with an opportunity to work together, create networks and share knowledge, skills and experiences in leadership and engagement in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Alan Smith, Senior HIV advisor for IPPF, said “Working with and for young people is not a choice; it is an imperative. Beyond the sheer size of the youth population, they face significant obstacles in exercising their right to health and accessing the services they need to prevent HIV infection and avoid STIs and unwanted pregnancy. From stigma and social norms to cost and convenience, the barriers that young people come up against translate into the delay or denial of access to services.

“We must do more to ensure that young people are able to turn their decisions for their lives into reality, including universal access to HIV treatment. We have a responsibility to engage with young people not only for the promotion of their health but, also, for the promotion of their development as citizens, partners and leaders.”

Chaka Chaka, launching the Zone informed, “Young people are our future. But we are a long way off from giving them all they need for their sexual and reproductive health and rights to flourish and enrich our communities. Without their involvement, how can we possibly shape policy or services that seek to improve and enrich their lives. Young people face all sorts of problems and are often not given the safe space to talk, to seek help or be protected. Our booming youth populations require an understanding of what their sexual and reproductive health needs are and how we can enable them to find the solutions together and uphold their rights.”

The launch was followed by a panel discussion with young people from the Melbourne Youth Force and Pact South Africa on the role of youth leadership and human rights in shaping services that are fit for purpose.