Youth participation is a key objective in the IPPF EN strategic plan.
The IPPF European Network takes a rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and views youth participation as a right of all young people.
Youth Advocates for SRHR in Development
A major achievement has been the ‘Joining Forces’ project, an interregional initiative where the IPPF EN was successful in putting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and youth participation on the agenda of the European Parliament and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), sustaining a continued visible and credible presence of YSAFE (IPPF EN youth group) and YAM (IPPF Africa Region youth group) representatives at these high-level meetings.
In addition, we managed to build a strong pool of youth SRHR advocates, enabling European and African future generations to be heard in international arenas where policies are decided.
Our young advocates participated in 2007-2008 JPA sessions held in Germany, Rwanda and Slovenia. In March 2008, youth advocates were able, for the first time, to host an official side event on youth SRHR and youth participation at the JPA session in Slovenia. The side event entitled ‘Young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights: Hear our voice!’ had an outstanding turnout of both African and European Members of Parliament.
These young people aged between 20 and 25 acquired advocacy skills and experience and are now able to articulate technical and to-the point advocacy arguments in favour of SRHR for young people in a complex environment. They have become empowered to approach parliamentarians from their respective countries to explain the importance of targeting youth in SRHR programmes and to advocate for youth-friendly SRHR policies, including increased funding.
YSAFE: IPPF EN youth network
IPPF EN encourages the involvement of young people in governance at all levels. This has become possible with IPPF EN’s YSAFE network of young people, established in 2006 to encourage young people to participate more actively in the work of IPPF EN at both regional and Member Association level.
Linking YSAFE with other youth networks and institutions in the Region
IPPF EN has strengthened linkages between young people from the YSAFE and other European youth networks. In 2008, we were successful in bringing our young people around the table at the European Commission where we liaised with other youth movements such as the European Youth Forum, WAAGS (the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) and YouAct (a group
of young activists on sexuality and reproduction), to coordinate crucial inputs to decisive health strategies that should affect future generations.
IPPF EN has also become a close partner of the European Commission Directorate for Health (DG SANCO) since its 3-year SAFE project: A European partnership to promote youth SRHR, funded by the European Commission.
Development of new youth training modules
To build the capacity of our young volunteers, we developed a new Youth Training Package with the support of Central Office and in consultation with our Member Associations.
The resource pack, available in English and in Russian, contains four different modules which can be used separately ortogether as a 5-day training course. Each module should enable young volunteers to: understand their role, rights and responsibilities within the organization; understand how Member Associations can promote youth-adult partnerships; acquire the essentials on SRH and Sexual Rights; and enhance their knowledge and skills to communicate about the work and core values of their Member Association.