Get Up Speak Out Implementation phase I The SRHR Alliance developed a joint programme, Get Up, Speak Out for youth rights (GUSO) that received funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the following core issue: Young people do not claim their sexual rights and their right to participation because of restrictions at community, societal, institutional and political levels. This hinders their access to comprehensive SRHR education and services that match their needs, and ability to make their own informed SRHR decisions. The GUSO Theory of Change (ToC) builds on the successes and experience of the SRHR Alliance’s members in the ASK and UFBR programmes. Through one overarching strategy linking (1) the provision of sexuality education and information; (2) the provision of quality, youth-friendly SRH services; (3) building support for youth SRHR, by addressing socio-cultural and political barriers in terms of practices, norms and policies (multi-component approach), the operationalization of GUSO’s five core principles (meaningful youth participation, inclusiveness, positive rights based approach, gender transformative programming and sustainability) and five interrelated outcomes (see below) the programme will contribute towards the long term objective.

Objectives Description
Long term objective: All young people, especially girls and young women, are empowered to realise their SRHR in societies that are positive towards young people’s sexuality. Interrelated outcomes: 1. Strengthened and sustainable alliances 2. Empowered young people voice their rights 3. Increased use of SRHR information and education 4. Increased use of youth-friendly SRHR services 5. Improved socio-cultural and legal environment.

Target Groups Description
Young people (10-25 years old) Despite the progress made in improving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), youth worldwide are still vulnerable to poor SRHR outcomes. Many young people lack access to comprehensive SRHR information, education and services, severely limiting their ability to make informed SRHR decisions, protect their health and stand up for their rights. With over 1.8 billion young people (aged 10-25) living in the world today, addressing their (sexual) health and wellbeing has profound educational and economic benefits. Hierarchical and conservative ideas about young people’s autonomy and right to make decisions about their (sexual) lives, restrict young people’s SRHR, and means their voices go unheard. Socio-cultural norms and values subordinate girls and women and limit their active participation in public life. This impacts their reproductive rights, including access to contraception, safe and legal abortion, and sexual rights. These values also influence men and boys. Engaging men and boys is essential for improving SRHR, preventing HIV and AIDS and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In addition, specific vulnerable groups, such as young lesbian gay bisexual transgender (LGBT), young people living with HIV (YPLHIV), disabled youth, out-of-school youth and young people living in remote rural or high-density urban settings, require targeted and contextualised approaches that address their specific needs and realities.