Empowering youth on sexuality and rights
Right Here Right Now enables young people in all their diversity to enjoy their sexual and reproductive health and rights in societies where there is equity and equality between genders in all aspects of life.
This youth-centred programme sees young people, especially girls, young women and young LGBTQI+ people being empowered to make decisions about their sexuality, voice their needs and claim their rights.
The partnership tackles taboos. We focus on these issues and advocate for the rights of these marginalised groups because, based on our robust experience, we can, and because few others do.
We lobby governments to adopt and be accountable for inclusive human-rights based policies and laws which enable young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender justice.
Governments must give young people access to comprehensive sexuality education, information and youth-friendly services – including safe abortion – so they can make choices free from stigma, discrimination and violence.
Increasing support for rights
We are part of a vibrant global youth movement transforming gender and power relations by reinforcing positive norms and values. We are unleashing the power of youth, to increase public support for sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as gender justice. We are strengthening civil society around these issues.
The programme strengthens the capacity of young people on advocacy, dealing with opposition, youth participation and leadership and gender-transformative approaches.
Right Here Right Now champions digitalisation and new forms of partnership. Young people can mobilise, hold governments to account and expand civic space online. Digitalisation makes it easier for some marginalised groups to access information and voice opinions.
We also build on the results of the Get Up Speak Out, Rights Evidence Action, Love Matters programme and the SheDecides movement.
Young people’s rights under pressure
Right Here Right Now comes at a critical time, when young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender justice are under pressure around the world in the face of taboos, shrinking civic space and growing conservatism.
Ideologies on the rights of girls, women and LGBTQI+ people are increasingly polarised. Decision-making is not transparent and political spaces are occupied by powerful anti-rights groups.
Young people’s sexuality rights and needs are consistently denied, ignored or unmet. Many cannot access the right information and education due to poverty, exclusion and gaps in provision.
Already stretched donor funding for their sexual and reproductive health and rights is being cut even further. Organisations speaking out often do so in isolation, making themselves vulnerable.