IYAFP is a global youth-led organization working to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice for young people, everywhere. IYAFP brings together young human rights defenders from over 40 countries and works tirelessly to promote the meaningful engagement of young people in decision making spaces.
As IYAFP, we welcome the acknowledgement of catastrophic and existential risks faced by our systems of life and the collective responsibility of countries to address them and the goal of strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation, recognizing that global crises must be addressed through global action. However, the Pact for the Future overemphasizes the “technology solutionism” approach. As IYAFP, we believe that anthropic existential risks need to be addressed by tackling their root causes, which will include significant changes in social, economic, and political patterns, policies, and practices.
We welcome the renewed commitment to the UN Charter and international law, and the reaffirmation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The recognition of the interconnectedness of sustainable development, peace, and human rights is essential to ensure a more effective multilateral system, capable of addressing global challenges. Furthermore, the Pact for the Future includes essential actions, such as achieving gender equality (Action 8), closing the SDG financing gap in developing countries (Action 4), addressing climate change (Action 9), implementing youth, peace, and security commitments (Action 20), investing in the social and economic development of children and young people (Action 37), protecting the human rights of young people (Action 38), strengthening meaningful youth participation at the national level (Action 39), strengthening meaningful youth participation at the international level (Action 40), transforming global governance (Action 41), strengthening the Economic and Social Council and in particular the Commission on the Status of Women (Action 46), ensuring the enjoyment by all of all human rights (Action 49), accelerating reform of the international financial architecture (Action 50), and strengthening the international response to complex global shocks (Action 57), among others.
As IYAFP, we note with satisfaction the explicit inclusion of Action 8 (f) Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences, and the explicit inclusion of sexual and reproductive health under Action 37.
However, as IYAFP we urge member states to acknowledge the importance of comprehensive sexuality education that is age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and inclusive of diverse identities and orientations by adopting and implementing policies and curricula that are scientifically backed and non-stigmatizing. We also urge member states to commit to guaranteeing access to youth-friendly health services that are integrated into health systems and well-resourced.
Furthermore, it is important that the Pact for the Future includes specific language related to protecting and promoting the rights of traditionally marginalized youth, including but not limited to LGBTIQ+ youth, young persons with disabilities, afro descendants, indigenous youth, rural youth, adolescents, young people living with HIV, and young refugees and asylum seekers. The Pact for the Future also fails to acknowledge the importance of ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings.
Finally, governments must commit to ensuring adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for sexual and reproductive health programming, and including it as an essential part of universal health coverage.
IYAFP stands ready to collaborate with all stakeholders in transforming policies to advance SRHRJ. By advocating for the rights of young people, IYAFP seeks to contribute to the realization of an equitable reality for every single young person, everywhere. We urge member states, allies and other stakeholders to prioritize these key areas. Young people deserve a future that upholds their fundamental rights.
Acknowledgments: We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the IYAFP members who contributed to the development of this statement. Thank you for your dedication, insights, and commitment to advancing the rights and health of young people globally.
Contributors:
- Laraib Abid
- Mercy Bolaji
- Molly Chan
- Bassirou Gassama
- Leo E. Tiah
- Vincent Uhega