Empowering the Next Generation
In Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly half of the population is under twenty-five. Yet young people’s sexual and reproductive health needs are often unfulfilled. More than one in three young women in the region gives birth before her twentieth birthday, and in many countries—particularly in rural areas—teen pregnancy rates are rising.
We believe young people have the right to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. And we work closely with our 41 Member Associations across the region to ensure young people can access the high-quality, non-judgmental, confidential services they need to live healthy, self-determined lives. We also build the leadership of young people to advocate for their rights at local, national, and international levels.
In 2006, the government of Peru amended the Criminal Code with the intention to take a tough stance against the sexual abuse of minors by adults. But the law also criminalized all sexual activity among adolescents—regardless of consent—and the threat of harsh legal penalties had a negative impact on the health and well-being of youth. After civil society groups filed an unconstitutionality action, the Peruvian Constitutional Court decriminalized consensual sexual activity between adolescents in 2013. This was a big step forward in eliminating the barriers that young people face when accessing comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services.