Socio-cultural factors
Promoting young people's sexual and reproductive health: stigma, discrimination and human rights
Addressing stigma and discrimination to improve young people’s sexual and reproductive health
Authors:
K. Wood; P. Aggleton
Publisher:
Safe Passages to Adulthood, 2004
This document, produced by Safe Passages to Adulthood, examines the experiences of projects working to challenge stigma and discrimination and to promote human rights as they relate to young people’s sexual and reproductive health. It draws on a meeting held in 2003 in which participants from a wide variety of countries described their experiences. The document provides a background and definitions of the issues of stigma, discrimination and human rights, and presents several case studies in order to identify principles for effective practice that might inform future work.
The authors outline several lessons which emerged from the projects reviewed during the meeting. They recommend changing social norms in relation to HIV and AIDS, sexual diversity and gender, in order to address the stigma and discrimination experienced by many young people. Young people need to be involved centrally and respectfully in the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes aimed at them. Other recommendations include: creating spaces in which coalitions of marginalised groups can be developed; challenging the language of stigma and discrimination; conducting sensitive and participatory research to understand the contexts of stigma and discrimination; using a human rights framework; using the mass media and innovative methods such as theatre; recognising the diversity of young people.
