A Vision Shared: Perla, 26, Mexico

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What are the greatest challenges to women's and young people's health and rights?

I think that one of the primary challenges we face is, first, to be identified as being entitled to rights. We are generally identified only as girls, but we're not...we are a bit older, yet we're not given the liberties that are afforded to adults.  Although it seems like something simple, designating us as young women is a substantial step toward improving our rights and ensuring good health. 

Basically, we need to be treated like young women with rights. We need health services that do not look at us only as mothers; health services that go beyond reproductive rights and ensure sexual rights as well. We need to be able to count on access to methods, to medical services, to information free from religious prejudices and biases that treat youth as irresponsible people. We need to recognize and work to change the social factors that do not allow us to be independent. We need to speak openly about love, relationships, dependencies, and the kind of gender-based violence that mutilates and outrages our bodies. The challenge for young women is to change the way people see us so that we can access our human rights.

What actions are you taking to make the world safer and healthier for women and young people?

I decided to dedicate my life to the idea that another world is possible. I am a young woman who coordinates a youth feminist organization called Elige (Choose). We are an organization that questions paradigms-in my work, I speak of feminism and youth as central ideals to my social action, and challenge today's world of extreme consumption and globalization. In my struggle each day, I work with local government promoting a youthful approach to the Mexican government's health policies at both the local and national levels. Also, I participate in feminist groups where we work with other feminist women to construct alliances as a social movement to claim the rights of young people. Also, we look to partner with other wonderful young activists to fortify the youth movement working for sexual rights in Central America, and have organized several meetings with youth organizations in the region.

What are your dreams for yourself and for the world's youth?

I want to be in a world where young women can completely live our sexuality, where our love is free, independent, where we celebrate the fact that our adversities are not due to poor health services or poverty. A world where our economic situation does not define our life, where our dreams are constructed based on our interests, where education is within the reach of all, where our liberties are not restricted by gender-based violence, and a world where our families demonstrate love and solidarity. I want to be in a world where our differences make us the same and where all the worlds can be possible.

>>Read more submissions from young people worldwide