Millions of young people around the world face barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services, from contraception to abortion care, to comprehensive sexuality education. Today, one in four adolescents has an unmet need for contraception and seven million adolescents give birth each year. Early pregnancy or childbirth complications are also a leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 worldwide.

These statistics are unacceptable—and this is why the Center has been working for years to increase access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for adolescents across the globe.

Learn more about the Center's ongoing work in adolescent SRHR here, then keep reading for our latest commitment to advance young people's rights.

Global

The Center and Partners Host Adolescent SRHR Panel at the Generation Equality Forum

On July 1, the Center and partners, including the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Plan International, and the Government of Sweden, hosted a live discussion on adolescent SRHR. The interactive and intergenerational event—which featured input from young people around the world—was part of the Generation Equality Forum, a major global event organized by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France.

The panel discussion, titled "My Body is My Own: Young Women's and Adolescent Girls' Bodily Autonomy and Decision-making," featured insights from Enid Muthoni, the Center's Senior VP of Global Programs, as well as representatives from UNFPA, the Swedish Ministry, and the Guatemalan organization Las Niñas Lideran ("Girls Lead"). The session was moderated by Charlie Andre Acosta of the Youth Coalition.

Panelists discussed the importance of bodily autonomy and barriers currently faced by young people in accessing SRHR; they also offered recommendations for stakeholders to prioritize adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. As an official "Commitment Maker" at the event, the Center submitted formal commitments to take legal action to advance gender equality by 2026.

Watch the GEF event replay and learn more about the Center's work advancing young people's rights below.

"Enabling girls to delay pregnancy is a key element of realizing their right to education, which in turn enables them to have greater economic opportunities, social empowerment and financial independence."

—Enid Muthoni
Senior Vice President of Global Programs, at the Generation Equality Forum