YSAFE and YAM (the IPPF EN and IPPF Africa Region youth networks) continued their advocacy efforts within the framework of the Joining Forces: Youth advocates for SRHR in development project by attending the EU-ACP JPA held in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 16-20 March 2008.

With support from JPA Co-Chair, Glenys Kinnock, YSAFE and YAM brought together other organisations, YouAct and members of Countdown 2015 Europe, where they hosted an official side event on SRHR and youth participation. The side event was titled "Young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights: Hear our voice!" and took place on Wednesday, 19 March 2008. The event had an interactive agenda with an outstanding turn-out of both African and European Members of Parliament.

The side meeting began with a drama to highlight the challenge young people can face when needing access to youth friendly services. They continued to explain the challenge to access SRH services in the developing world as well as point out the importance of youth participation when developing and implementing projects that reach young people. Using posters they raised awareness on how young people from both Africa and Europe have taken their own needs in their hands by advocating for better access to services and for greater youth participation in decision making on a national and European level. Next, the young advocates raised awareness on the International, European, African and EU/African political commitments that have been made to address these challenges.

During the side meeting, time was set aside for an open debate between the young advocates and the attending JPA members. They successfully held good discussions on how members of the JPA can help young people be heard on their sexual and reproductive health needs. The JPA members showed overall support to young people on SRHR with concrete recommendations. For example, John Bowis, UK MEP, invited the young advocates to give input on reports, Rita Sithole, Mozambique MP, invited the young people to speak at the Parliament, and a Kenya delegate promised to look into the budget lines to make sure that SRHR of young people would be included. The young advocates also presented their statement to remind JPA members of how they can support both the issues of SRHR and youth participation as well as better implementation of the existing commitments.

In addition to the side meeting, the young advocates attended other JPA sessions, particularly where health and SRHR were topics. They also had the opportunity to host an IPPF information stand, take part in a demonstration together with CONCORD, as well as have an experience sharing meeting together with active youth volunteers in Slovenia.

For more information, please contact Ada Dortch at adortch@ippfen.org and Eef Wuyts at ewuyts@ippfen.org