Fulfil! Guidance Document for the Implementation of Young People's Sexual Rights

"Translating the sexual rights of young people into practice not only involves raising awareness among young people for them to claim their rights, but working with duty bearers, such as health providers, educators and policy makers for them to fulfil these rights in law and in services."

With this in mind, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) developed Fulfil!. This guide explores opportunities to implement young people's sexual rights in a global context and provides specific guidance for adults seeking to empower young people to take action and to claim what is their due.

IPPF and WAS contend that young people's sexual rights need to be at the centre of the sustainable development agenda. Among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adoped by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2015, the guide's publishers identify the following as the most relevant: SDG 3 ("Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"), SDG 4 ("Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"), and SDG 5 ("Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls").

Fulfil! has 3 parts. The first part outlines the core convictions that are at the basis for the implementation of young people's sexual rights: a comprehensive understanding of youths' sexuality, which locates diversity and sexual wellbeing at the core; gender perspective and equality; the balance between autonomy and protection, in the context of evolving capacities and empowerment; and meaningful youth participation. The second part provides guidance regarding critical opportunities for the implementation of young people's sexual rights within 5 areas: freedom of sexual expression; sexual and reproductive health services and commodities; comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information; protection from sexual violence; and remedies and redress. Each of these sections includes: a short description of the issue/area for implementation; reference to the sexual rights mentioned in the WAS and IPPF declarations that are primarily related to the area; opportunities for sexual rights implementation; and a summary of key implementation actions for laws/policies and services/programmes. The third part is a case-by-case decision making model for service providers and programmers to support the implementation of young people's sexual rights.