A fine line exists between parents providing support and parents pushing their own beliefs on young people. This paper argues that research suggests that most young people are capable of making mature, healthy decisions about their reproductive health and that most of the time there is a positive association when […]
This paper recognizes and discusses the range of ‘protection’ and ‘autonomy’ rights relevant to young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and addresses the relevance of different international, regional and UN charters and conventions on children’s rights.
Are protection and autonomy opposing concepts?
This policy brief highlights important obstacles that result in poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes among young people. Policy recommendations provide advice for governments and policy makers on how to improve young people’s access to information, services and supplies.
Contraceptive Security Securing contraceptives for economic development
An example of guidelines governing young people’s right to consent to treatment, from the UK, a case study on ensuring informed consent during a consultation about contraception, guidance on establishing, understanding and modelling consent, a checklist for being a youth-friendly health professional.
There are approximately 3 billion people under 25 and a large percentage of those young people lack the access to sexual and reproductive health services or information that they need to translate their decisions into realities for their lives now and in the future.
Maintaining confidentiality and promoting young people’s right to confidentiality is essential to creating trust and encouraging young people to visit and continue using a service for preventive care and counselling.
Young people are often seen as a single homogenous group, but in reality they are a diverse population whose sexual and reproductive health needs are complex,shifting, and varied. Each young person has a unique social,cultural and economicidentity that impacts on theirsexual and reproductive well-being.
Keys to youth-friendly services: Celebrating diversity
Sex-positivity celebrates sexuality as an enhancing part of life that brings happiness, energy and celebration; and recognises young people’s rights to express their thoughts, opinions, needs and desires related to sexuality.
Keys to youth-friendly services: Adopting a sex positive approach
This publication defines sexuality, identifies barriers to education, participation and sexual health for young women recommends key actions for policy-makers, describes positive programmes, tools and strategies that make an impact, advocates supporting partners and parents to talk about sexuality and sexual health.
This factsheet offers three examples of projects to develop the resilience of young people, distinguishes between vulnerability at individual and social levels, emphasises the importance of community involvement and support, explores the importance of social and economic context.