Several youth organisations have come together to launch Guyana’s first Youth Coalition on Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights, as a follow-up to the UNFPA hosted Youth Forum on the International Conference on Population Development which was held in June, 2013.
According to a press release from the Guyana Press Association, the coalition, launched at the President Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) building on Saturday last, is geared to provide young people with sexual and reproductive health information. It will do so through
education on their rights to basic health care and will target the constituents of young people reached by youth organisations that are members of the coalition.
It will also start a campaign under the theme ‘Youth Have Rights’ to zero in on human rights, such as rights to education, health, protection and access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, the release said.
It added that the coalition members will undergo capacity building sessions so that their organisations can mainstream sexual and reproductive health and rights into their work programmes. It stated further that some organisations are already conducting outreaches, training and distribution of reproductive health commodities.
“The coalition will support these activities so that they become more broad-based and reach underserved and vulnerable communities,” the release said.
The release stated that Assistant Representative for UNFPA in Guyana Patrice La Fleur said UNFPA supports the work of the coalition and she urged the young people to remember their importance in contributing to the reduction of adolescent pregnancy, gender based violence, and ensuring equal opportunities for girls and women.
La Fleur said there was important work to be done to achieve the ‘unfinished’ agenda of the ICPD while encouraging them to continue their work in their communities to empower young women on sexual and reproductive health care so as to reduce adolescent pregnancy.
Youth organizations present at the launch were the United Nations Population Fund – Youth Advisory Group, One World Youth Project, Come Alive Network Inc, Global Youth Movement – Guyana, Caribbean Youth Environment Network – Guyana branch, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association and Artistes In Direct Support.
