“What exactly could a pack of well-educated, pro-choice young people teach our members of Parliament about sex? Probably quite a lot".
(Source: Toronto Star)
Members of Canadian Youth for Choice hit the road in a minivan during summer on a national sex education tour.
The 'Know Your Rights' campaign: empowering Canadian youth to campaign for their sexual and reproductive health and rights, is an IPPF Innovation Fund project implemented by Canadian Youth for Choice, and supported by the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.
"We don't want to preach to the choir," she added "We want youth who are not engaged to become engaged." Lisa Middleton, Canadian Youth for Choice ‘Street Team’ member who went on the roadshow.
(Source: The Montreal Gazette)
Why is this work important?
In Canada, the sexual and reproductive rights of young people are highly politicized and anti-choice youth groups are well organised and well funded.
Young people currently have the right to access sexual and reproductive health information and services at any age, but in a conservative political environment, this access is being threatened.
These rights are also often not understood by young people themselves, making them vulnerable to service providers and schools who in practice often withhold vital services on the basis of personal belief.
What is innovative about this project?
This project seeks to empower young people to take control of their sexuality and influence the decisions made by them and others about their sexual health.
The ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign was the brainchild of Canadian Youth for Choice (CYC) members from across Canada and is an initiative that is solely developed and implemented by young people.
CYC is the first pro-choice organisation for youth in the country and is pioneering a strategy of peer advocacy through a Canadian Charter of Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth.
- Young Canadians are increasing their knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- The profile of Canadian Youth for Choice is being raised.
- Young people are becoming engaged in the pro-choice movement and input directly into the content of the Charter.
- Support for the Charter is being gathered from youth and politicians.
How is the strategy working?
The Know Your Rights campaign undertook a road tour by a ‘Street Team’ of young people that visited every province in Canada.
The tour stopped at festivals, concerts and fairs, providing sexual and reproductive health information, condoms and talking to young people about their rights.
This informal setting was an innovative and effective way of engaging young people and 500 signed a petition to endorse it.
The Street Team also gathered support for the Charter from politicians along the way, culminating in the unveiling of the Charter on Parliament Hill.
Several Members of Parliament are interested in presenting the Charter as a private members bill.
One success of the campaign was its relevance to young people.
Edgy and effective slogans were developed including a postcard campaign for young people to tell politicians that ‘we want to know our 
S.H.I.T.’ (sexual health information today).
The campaign website received 86 thousand hits.
This project has strengthened the pro-choice movement across Canada and boosted Canadian Youth for Choice as experts in youth sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Membership and interest from supportive politicians has increased and this project has been instrumental in developing partnerships with local sexual health groups.
As a youth led organisation, the volunteers are gaining valuable experience in project management and developing effective strategies for advocating to young people.
What next?
The Charter continues to be used as an advocacy tool by Canadian Youth for Choice and the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.
Discussions with young people during the Know Your Rights campaign are feeding into the 2008 CYC campaign ‘Doing it Right!’, which calls for comprehensive, unbiased sexual and reproductive health education.
Want to find out more?
Visit the Canadian Youth for Choice website for more information about the project and tips on how young people can advocate for their rights:
www.cyouthc.ca
Contact
innovation@ippf.org
IPPF Western Hemisphere Region
Canadian Federation for Sexual Health