According to the State of World Population 2003, nearly half of all the people in the world are under the age of 25, and about 20% of all people are adolescents between 10 and 19. The 'demographic bonus' that they bring will not materialize if they are unhealthy, and this includes sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Lack of access to SRH information and services means that many young people are not equipped to make correct decisions about SRH. Yet there is still a lack of policies in most countries to support SRH for adolescents and youth. Ensuring access to SRH information and services will contribute to attaining the ICPD PoA and UN Millennium Development Goals.

In the past, adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) advocacy programs were conducted by concerned adults, but young people know what they need and, if empowered and given opportunities, are capable of advocating their own needs. The importance of youth participation is widely recognized, but in order for young people to take the initiative in ASRH programs, there is still a lot to do.

One of JOICFP's strengths is advocacy, and it developed strategies that created an enabling and supportive environment for ASRH programs under the UNFPA Asia Regional ASRH Project (RAS/00/P05), implemented from 2000 to 2003. From 2004, JOICFP has launched a new Asia regional project "Strengthening Advocacy for ASRH Programs through Youth Initiative (RA5R205)," also under the UNFPA Asia Regional Program, based on the experiences and outcomes of the previous one.

Planning meeting

The planning meeting for this new project was held in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture from 4th to 8th October. The new project will develop strategies for community advocacy on ASRH through youth initiative by empowering both young people and adults in rural communities in two countries, Bangladesh and Cambodia. The process and outcomes of the models will be widely shared.

Thirteen participants, including youth representatives, from Bangladesh and Cambodia, operation countries, and Malaysia and the Philippines, South-to-South collaboration countries, attended the planning meeting, as well as IPPF and JOICFP staff. The meeting aimed to:

o Orient members to the regional project and its objectives and strategies
o Review ASRH issues in rural communities and the activities taken to tackle them
o Develop a framework for community ASRH advocacy through youth initiative
o Develop work plans for the overall four-year project

Youth representatives identify
and discuss common ASRH issues

The meeting participants developed strategies for country-level operations for Bangladesh and Cambodia, as well as regional activities, and as Malaysia and the Philippines are engaged in South-to-South cooperation in a regional project, they will provide technical support for these countries based on their rich ASRH experience.

Participants learn how to document
with pen and camera in a session
on process documentation

In addition to project planning, the four youth representatives met with parliamentarians of the Democratic Party of Japan to explain the real ASRH situations facing youth in developing countries. They also attended a network gathering with young Japanese people involved in ASRH activities on 6th October in Tokyo.

Youth participants with JOICFP staff and resource personnel