Title: Improving young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services
Introduction :
Young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services constitutes a major public health issue. As part of the Makoki ya Muasi project, the Youth Sprint movement in partnership with IPAS recently organized an advocacy morning aimed at promoting the improvement of this access in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This event is part of a global approach aimed at strengthening the right to sexual and reproductive health of women and girls, particularly in the cities of Kinshasa and Goma.
Actions carried out by Youth Sprint:
During this morning of advocacy, members of the Youth Sprint movement presented the actions they have already undertaken to promote young people’s access to sexual and reproductive rights. They also shared the encouraging results of the work carried out by the Masuja, sensitizers, in the Kanyaruchinya and Bulengo IDP camps. This report highlights significant progress in promoting access to safe abortion in the DRC.
The recommendations presented:
In order to continue this positive dynamic, the young people of Youth Sprint submitted a memo to the Minister of Youth of the DRC. This document contains several key recommendations addressed to the government as well as to donors and technical and financial partners. Among these recommendations, we find in particular:
– The continuation of the process of decriminalization of abortion and the harmonization of the Congolese penal code with the Maputo Protocol.
– The integration of comprehensive abortion care into the national universal health coverage strategy.
– The integration of comprehensive sexuality education into school programs in order to inform adolescents and help them make informed decisions about their sexuality.
– The non-judicial arrest of providers offering comprehensive abortion care and of women using it.
The commitment of the actors involved:
The Minister of Youth of the DRC pledged to support these recommendations and to work actively to advance the issue of the Maputo Protocol. He also expressed his desire to protect actors on the ground, such as the Masuja, in order to guarantee their safety during awareness raising on access to safe abortion.
For its part, IPAS RDC, partner of this initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting young people in their awareness-raising work by providing them with flexible funding and by lobbying the Congolese authorities for true reproductive justice in the DRC.
Conclusion :
Improving young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services is essential to promote their well-being and autonomy. The Youth Sprint movement, in collaboration with IPAS, is leading active advocacy to advance this cause in the DRC. Through their actions and recommendations, they contribute to creating an environment conducive to the development of young people in terms of sexual and reproductive health. It is essential that the government and partners continue to support this approach and work together to guarantee equitable and discrimination-free access to these essential services.