Sexual Rights, Parents and Young People

In some countries, parents' desire to protect their children from unplanned pregnancy, STIs and exploitation makes it difficult to accept young people's desire for meaningful relationships, their need for information and confidential services, and thus deny them rights linked to their sexuality. The outcomes are often negative, shrouding sexuality in fear and guilt. Conversely, in other areas young people may be denied their human rights in other ways as parents seek to impose harmful traditional practices, or forced early marriage.
The role of parents and caregivers is central to young people's development. Laws and policies further shape the context for creating the desired enabling, caring and respectful environment. IPPF's Declaration of Sexual Rights considers these issues, based on human rights entitlements and the realities of young people's lives in the 21st century. Likewise, community based programmes to discourage parents from arranging early marriages and removing girls from school, can be effective and life changing, as IPPF's recent Girls Decide initiative demonstrates.This paper will examine a number of these issues, and explores how a paradigm of rights and respect between parents and young people can contribute to richer relationships, more positive attitudes towards sexuality for both parents and young people, and the achievement of young people's potential and resilience.