A Vision Shared: Rose, 25, Nigeria

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What are the greatest challenges to youth health and rights?

The greatest challenges to women's and girls' health and rights are the issues around their sexual and reproductive rights.  The patriarchal society in which we are living has made it difficult for many women and girls to have a final say over what happens to their bodies. Rape and early marriage, which exposes young girls to Vesico-Vaginal-Fistula as well as HIV and other STIs, are rampant in some areas.  Young girls are the most common victims of rape and other sexual abuses. 

The societal behavior towards women and girls who are sexually abused has made many victims of sexual abuse live with the abuse without reporting it.  Women conceal the abuse to avoid being stigmatized or accused of being dressed in an indecent manner.

How are you making the world safer and healthier for youth?:

My actions to make the world safer and healthier for women and girls include outreach to schools where I give information on sexual and reproductive health to young people. As a coordinator for the INCRESE dance drama group, I strategize to ensure that young people in the rural areas of Nigeria have adequate information about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Though many school principals do not see sexuality education for young people as something positive, I strongly believe that age-appropriate information given to young people on their reproductive health and sexuality will help them to make informed decisions related to their sexuality. 

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

My dream is to see the day when women and young girls will discuss issues about their sexual and reproductive health and rights freely without any coercion or infringement on their sexual rights by their male counterparts. 

I hope also to see a society where young girls are allowed to choose for themselves the man/partner they want to live with, and where they and not forcefully withdrawn from school and given to the person of their parents' choice as is the case here in Minna - Niger State, Nigeria.

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