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Youth

THE CALL
Everyday around the world, young people are faced with many difficult challenges. At a time when they are deciding what they want to become, how they want to grow and how they can contribute to society, crucial decisions that will define their futures need to be made. Moreover, this is a time when young people face issues regarding their sexuality that sometimes put them at risk of morbidity and even mortality. Fifteen years ago, in 1994, more than 170 countries and world civil society leaders made a commitment to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people at the International Conference on Population and Development.

With young people comprising about half of the global population, governments and civil society alike must continue to uphold and strengthen their commitments to young people. Young people should no longer face the burden of insufficient access to information, services, support, choices and the right to decide on matters regarding their own bodies especially their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

On September 2-4, 2009, on the occasion of the 15 year anniversary of the ICPD Programme of Action, young people from around the world will come together with other SRHR advocates and activists in Berlin to discuss best practices, lessons learned, challenges and ways of moving forward. Young people such as yourself are encouraged to participate in this very important event. Join us as we together chart our future, hold our leaders accountable and call on them to invest in our rights, health, and development.

This forum aims to develop strong key messages that will form a Call to Action that is directed not only to governments but also to cultural and social leaders to effectively and consistently work on the goals of the ICPD. As young people are the stakeholders of the future, we call on you to further work on these commitments and make everybody who is present in this forum accountable to their commitment Together, we can make it happen.

Participate – There is a commitment young people aged 15 to 30 compose at least 25 % of the forum delegates. Join us in Berlin and let your voices be heard.