A Youth-Led Call to Action: Ensuring Inclusive SRHR and Male Engagement
(Adopted at the youth parliamentary debate session, held on December 23rd, 2024)
Prepared by:
- Syeda Mubassir Mahjabin Nahian, Deputy Lead, RHRN, YPF
- Prattasha Nawar Islam, Steering Committee Member, RHRN, YPF
| OUR VISION
We envision a world where young people, especially men, actively contribute to advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality. Our goal is to empower youth with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to challenge outdated norms and influence policies that promote inclusivity and justice. By creating platforms for youth involvement, we aim to ensure that all individuals have equal access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for growth. OUR CALL We call for the inclusion of youth in all stages of policymaking, particularly in SRHR and gender equality. We urge governments, organizations, and institutions to provide spaces where young people can engage in debates, discussions, and leadership roles. Specifically, we advocate for mandatory male participation in SRHR education to ensure shared responsibility for gender equality. OUR COMMITMENT We are committed to empowering young leaders to advocate for SRHR and gender equality in their communities and globally. Through active participation in debates and skill-building activities, we aim to raise awareness and challenge harmful gender stereotypes. We will work towards promoting a Men’s Reproductive Health and Rights Declaration as a key advocacy tool for future policy change. |
PREAMBLE:
The youth are key drivers of social change, innovation, and leadership. In a rapidly evolving world, it is essential for young voices to shape the discussions on critical issues such as SRHR and gender equality. The Youth Summit: has proven to be a dynamic platform for youth to engage in debates, challenge harmful norms, and actively influence policies aimed at creating a more just and equitable society.
Through a unique hybrid approach combining parliamentary debate and Model United Nations (MUN) structures, participants were able to explore and challenge harmful norms, advocate for policies promoting gender equality, and emphasize the importance of inclusivity in decision-making processes.
The summit highlighted the critical role of youth as catalysts for social change, providing them with the tools and resources to actively participate in policy-making and amplify their voices for a more just and equitable society. The debates fostered a deeper understanding of issues such as gender-based violence, consent, and reproductive rights, with youth-led initiatives gaining recognition for their potential to drive positive societal change.
The declaration is built upon the outcomes of the debate on whether male participation must be mandatory in the country in SRHR education and awareness programs to ensure gender equality. It was created with the support of the Youth Groups that are involved in RHRN project- – in which young individuals, youth organisations, youth alliances and networks as well as informal groups of young people have contributed by participating in the debate as debate participants and guest panel.
We acknowledge that SRHR is intertwined with broader issues such as climate justice, economic inequality, and human rights, and commit to addressing these interconnected challenges in our advocacy.
We advocate for a balanced approach to male participation in SRHR education, ensuring that while male involvement is encouraged and necessary for achieving gender equality, it is approached in a culturally sensitive and voluntary manner. We recognize that while some degree of mandatory involvement may be necessary, the approach should be flexible, inclusive, and context-specific.
The declaration aims to provide the commitment of the youths to the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of all genders in both public and private spheres. The declaration, signed by distinguished youth representatives, serves as a valuable document for further advocacy, ensuring the continued engagement of youth in shaping a more inclusive, progressive, and gender-just world.
OUR CALL:
We call upon all governments, institutions, and civil society organizations to:
- Prioritize and implement comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education that actively engages all genders, particularly men, in promoting gender equality, family planning, and the prevention of gender-based violence.
- Integrate SRHR programs into educational curricula, workplaces, and community-based initiatives, drawing upon existing global best practices. These programs must be designed to address the diverse sexual and reproductive health needs of individuals, ensuring inclusivity and equity for all genders, with particular attention to marginalized and underserved populations.
- Demonstrate the political will to enact and enforce policies that guarantee access to SRHR education, resources, and services for all young people, irrespective of their gender, background, or location.
- Create a shift in societal norms and the reduction of stigma surrounding men’s sexual health, ensuring that men are equally informed and empowered to contribute to family planning and reproductive health decision-making.
- Design policies that respect cultural, religious, and social contexts while guaranteeing the fundamental rights of all individuals to access accurate and relevant SRHR education.
- Amend the Penal Codes to explicitly recognize and address sexual violence against men, ensuring that laws provide equal protection for all individuals, regardless of gender. This should include clear definitions of sexual violence, legal recourse, and support services tailored to male survivors.
- Increase collaboration with religious leaders, community members, and the private sector to ensure SRHR initiatives are inclusive, sensitive, and effective, fostering mutual respect and alignment with local cultural and belief systems.
- Scale up of community-based SRHR initiatives, with a focus on ensuring accessibility and relevance for all populations, particularly those in rural and remote areas.
- Prioritize data collection and research on SRHR to better understand the challenges faced by different communities, including marginalized groups, and to inform evidence-based policy-making.
- Create a national task force to assess the quality and inclusivity of SRHR programs, including input from youth organizations, centers and conduct annual surveys of students, educators, and workers.
- Monitor media coverage and public opinion through surveys to assess shifts in societal attitudes about male participation in SRHR.
- Increase support and funding for youth-led initiatives that work on SRHR, ensuring that young people have the resources to lead meaningful change in their communities.
- Integrate mental health support within SRHR programs, addressing the psychological well-being of youth and men in particular, as part of a comprehensive health and rights approach.
- Create safe spaces for young people, especially men, where they can openly discuss sexual and reproductive health without fear of discrimination or judgment.
OUR COMMITMENT:
We, the youth, commit to:
- Be active agents of change, advocating for the inclusion of SRHR education in policies that promote gender equality, social justice, and the well-being of all individuals.
- Track the number of youth-led campaigns, their impact, and the level of engagement with policymakers.
- Monitor the number of youth trained and the projects they initiate to ensure that skills are being translated into tangible outcomes.
- Challenge harmful societal norms and stereotypes through education, dialogue, and advocacy, ensuring that both men and women are equally equipped with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
- Support the active participation of men in SRHR programs through inclusive, voluntary, and culturally sensitive approaches that foster positive behavior change and challenge patriarchal structures.
- Actively collaborate with governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to design and implement SRHR programs that reflect the lived experiences of youth and ensure inclusivity across all sectors.
- Advocate for the inclusion of SRHR education and awareness programs in workplaces, educational institutions, and community centers, ensuring that such initiatives are implemented in a way that is accessible to all, regardless of their gender, occupation, or social status.
- Develop leadership and advocacy skills that will help us contribute to the creation of a more equitable, inclusive, and gender-just society, where the rights and well-being of all individuals are respected and upheld.
- Support safe spaces for young people, especially men, where they can openly discuss sexual and reproductive health without fear of discrimination or judgment.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of these forums through post-event surveys and implement recommendations for future events.