This article is about an important event. Let me convince you with a direct quote of the preamble. I am doing the impossible, taking you back in time:
The year 2019, marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Programme of Action during the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt. In 2015, countries including Lesotho reaffirmed the commitment of putting “people, planet and prosperity” at the centre of development, when adopting the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs). The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho recognizes universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) rights is one of the cornerstones of population and is a key target of the SDGs.
Both ICPD and SDG recognize the need to protect, promote and fulfill the SRH rights of all young people in all their diversity giving particular attention to young women and girls and all the other vulnerable and marginalized groups. Thus, leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind.
Now that the red carpet has been unfolded, meet the stars:
A male and female student – In School Adolescents
Mats’eliso Mots’oane – United Nations Youth Advisory Panel (UNYAP)
Felleng Machake – UNYAP
Neo Kabi – LGBTIQA+ Community
Lisebo Phahla – Young People With Disability
Mamello Makhele – SHE DECIDES
Attending Youth And Representatives From Collaborator Organizations
Talking of collaborator organizations, the duo organizations that joined forces to make this event a success was The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and UNFPA.
The exciting part is that this event was an all star event, opinions worth receiving golden crowns were exchanged between the panelists and the floor. There was common ground in accomplishing common good for everybody, especially the marginalized groups. If Jesus were coming to earth that Friday, he would have started by joining us.
The discussion scope encompassed maternal issues, the sensitive abortion topic, Gender Based Violence, HIV and other STIs under the umbrella of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
A trillion well thought and insightful ideas later, fourteen ultra positive commitments were visited, revised and turned into fifteen inclusive commitments for universal good for everybody, with special attention to marginalized groups.
No burning issue was deprived intellectual opinion. To smear your lips with cake icing, I can tell you that teenagers can find solutions to challenges they face in the Tune Me platform as a way to increase accessibility. This may be really hard to believe, but here goes, churches are opening doors for LGBTIQA. It was comforting to know that religion might be slowly changing its stance from fear to understanding. I was reminded of a blog by Leoma Monaheng I had read the previous night.
There was also a call for accountability. If you are familiar with good governance, you should know that open channels for accountability increases chances for better outcomes.
A teacher representative from MoET gave closing remarks by asserting that she applauded the participation of youth in creating the commitments because too often, the youth take the back seat in issues relating to them.
She declared that the government and Ministry of Education is willing to support the accomplishment and sustainability of the commitments.
“Thank you UNFPA for organizing this and recognising the importance of our young people so that they learn to do things for themselves.” She maintained as she brought down the curtain.