ICPD

Summary of the ICPD Programme of Action

ICPD: Promoting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health through Behaviour Change Communciation and Peer Education

The Problem

“In many societies, adolescents face pressures to engage in sexual activity. Young women, particularly low-income adolescents, are especially vulnerable. Sexually active adolescents of both sexes are increasingly at high risk of contracting and transmitting STIs, including HIV/AIDS, and they are typically poorly informed about how to protect themselves.” –ICPD Programme of Action, para. 7.43

“Effective information, education and communication (IEC) are prerequisites for sustainable human development and pave the way for attitudinal and behavioural change. This begins with the recognition that decisions must be made freely, responsibly and in an informed manner, on the number and spacing of children and in all other aspects of daily life, including sexual and reproductive behaviour.” –ICPD Programme of Action, para. 11.12

Unfortunately, IEC and advocacy initiatives often don't target adolescents and young people.

The Promise

Countries and donors are urged to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues, including unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, through the promotion of responsible and healthy reproductive and sexual behaviour, including voluntary abstinence, the provision of appropriate services and counselling suitable for different age groups. –ICPD Programme of Action, para. 7.44

With assistance from donors and international development agencies, governments are also encouraged to promote attitudinal change in relation to responsible sexual behaviour using a variety of IEC and advocacy tools, including the formation of peer education networks, public media campaigns, and use of electronic media. –ICPD Programme of Action, para. 11.14 and para. 11.15

UNFPA's Strategic Approach

UNFPA's strategy for promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health through the effective use of information, education and communication (IEC), behaviour change communication (BCC) and advocacy initiatives, consists of the following main elements:

• Promotion of the rights of adolescents to reproductive health education, information and appropriate care.
• Designing and implementing programmes to meet the special needs of youth. Such programmes include support mechanisms for the education and counselling of adolescents and young people in areas of gender relations and equality, responsible sexual behaviour, family life, reproductive health, prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS and violence against adolescents.
• Sensitizing communities about the information needs of adolescents, including initiatives aimed at parents, religious and political institutions, community leaders, schools, mass media and peer groups
• Building a supportive environment for community-based IEC and advocacy programmes
• Establishing youth-to-youth peer education programmes and building networks
• Strengthening the interpersonal communication skills of youth service providers, including peer educators
• Utilizing multi-media, including the Internet, to inform and build support for adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes
• Designing peer education training programmes suitable across regions

How are we doing?

Promoting the health and rights of young people is a continuing struggle. Many governments still lack youth policies or services tailored to the specific needs of adolescents. The world's population contains 1.2 billion adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19, the largest youth cohort in history. Nearly 90 per cent of them live in developing countries.

UNFPA reports that over the past decade there have been major changes in how and what kind of information is made available to adolescents and young people. Increasing numbers of countries now recognize that the provision of information through the mass media is a cost-effective and popular means of getting health messages to young people.

Out of 151 countries responding to UNFPA's Global Survey of progress made over the past decade in implementing the goals of the ICPD, 133 (88 per cent) now provide adolescents with access to information on reproductive health issues.

Specifically, information efforts encompassed the following measures:

• 72 countries initiated national IEC/advocacy campaigns aimed at youth
• 46 countries launched national education strategies
• 38 countries initiated peer education programmes
• 37 countries utilized the media, including national TV and radio
• 32 countries provided special counselling services to youth
• 27 countries established youth associations
• 26 countries promoted youth-focused NGOs

Impressive gains have been by governments, NGOs and community groups in influencing behaviour change among youth. A total of 139 countries (92 per cent) reported having adopted one or more measures to promote responsible, safe reproductive health behaviour among vulnerable groups, especially youth. Of these, 94 countries launched national IEC/BCC campaigns.

Though constraints remain, especially opposition from conservative religious and political groups, the majority of countries have advanced the reproductive and sexual health agenda for young people by utilizing information technology, the media and non-formal communication channels, such as traditional and modern dance, drama and music.

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