Last week, YouAct was present at the 2015 EuroNGOs conference hosted by Sex og Politikk, the Norwegian Association for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Anna Johanson Dahl, SC member from Sweden and Ana Rizescu, the organization’s Coordinator, had the opportunity to meet, network, exchange and disseminate ideas, information and resources for advocacy.

As the first major civil society-led convening event following the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, the EuroNGOs International Conference contributed to the discussion and identified ways in which sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates can work together within the new agenda, while also pushing for the expansion of the SRHR envelope components that have been left aside.

YouAct’s Coordinator, Ana Rizescu was invited as a speaker in one of the sessions. She shared an analysis of the 2030 agenda outcome document from a youth perspective and highlighted the issues that have been left out. In her reflections about opportunities and challenges for young people and youth SRHR organizations to engage in the implementation, follow-up and review, she highlighted that addressing the youth development issues requires a multi-sectorial approach and having youth-adult partnerships as key elements. Ana also emphasized the importance of continuously supporting the capacity building of young people in developing skills that will allow them to better advocate on their own behalf, create programs and activities that will engage other youth and contribute to the ongoing processes related to the 2030 agenda.

Together with representatives of other youth networks, YouAct and partners prepared and used the momentum created by the EuroNGOs conference to emphasize the right of young people to meaningfully participate, to stimulate more youth-adult partnerships and work together with other stakeholders on the new agenda. “Framing meaningful youth participation in the SDGs” was the initiative that gathered photos with messages focusing on meaningful youth participation in the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (therefore, the hashtag used was #MYPintheSDGs).

David Donoghue (Irish UN-Ambassador and Co-facilitator for Post-2015 Negotiations),  Babatunde Osotimehin (UNFPA Executive Director) and Lambert Grijns (Special Ambassador for SRHR/HIV/AIDS of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) were among those who showed their support to ensure meaningful youth participation in the 2030 agenda implementation, follow-up and review.

Check more photos in YouAct’s facebook album  and find out more about the conference from the EuroNGO’s website.