In the lead up to the post-2015 development agenda, young people have been consistently calling on the international community to recognize their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through global, regional and national consultations.
To rally a global movement to influence national positions and political will and to inspire action towards achieving the SRHR goal, UNAIDS, in collaboration with Restless Development, the International Women’s Health Coalition, the PACT for social transformation and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), convened a meeting in Oslo, Norway, from 27 to 29 January.
Participants
The event brought together some 40 organizations working on women’s rights, SRHR, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex issues, and youth and HIV. UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, and the Director of Norad, Villa Kulild, also participated in the event.
Key messages
- The participants discussed the current situation regarding the post-2015 development agenda and the efforts needed to mobilize and reach youth constituencies in the final phase of intergovernmental negotiations.
- The participants shared lessons learned on high-level coalition building and opportunities to advance the youth SRHR and HIV agendas for the year ahead.
- The participants agreed to form a coalition to advance the social, economic and political determinants of health, strengthen language on SRHR, and address the lack of comprehensive sexuality education and access to health services for young people.
- The coalition will lobby for the inclusion of indicators on these topics in the accountability framework of the post-2015 development agenda.
- The coalition will advance this agenda both through advocacy in New York as well as through connecting and supporting a pool of young advocates calling for change at the country level.
- The coalition also defined the means of collaboration between the different organizations as well as their contributions to the global campaign.
- The global campaign will run from February to September 2015, with several days of action taking place at strategic moments in the lead up to the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“The adoption of the post-2015 framework is a historic opportunity to advance the issues young people have been calling throughout the process. It is time for leaders commit, invest and deliver the education and services that will fulfill every adolescents right to sexual and reproductive health.”
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador
“Collaboration with young people is essential to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes and policies address their realities, concerns and priorities. We must recognize young people’s diverse needs and experiences and uphold their rights to health, bodily autonomy and participation at every level.”
Villa Kulild, Director General, Norad
“We need to rethink comprehensive sexuality education to make sure it addresses the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people living with HIV.”
Musah Lumumba, Y+ and the PACT for social transformation
“Meetings like these always start with big dreams but amazingly in three days we managed to set out a concrete strategy moving forward. We are excited and energized to take on the current gaps in the post-2015 agenda.”
Kelly Thompson, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations and the PACT for social transformation
“Ending the AIDS epidemic cannot be achieved without sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have to make the connection between sexual rights and women’s rights, safety and health-care access and access to quality HIV treatment, and to reaching marginalized populations, including young women, with services in the post-2015 era.”
Malayah Harper, Chief, Gender Equality and Diversity Division, UNAIDS
