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Description
Teens aged 15 to 34 represented in 2019 50% of the NEW HIV cases in Romania, here being registered 17.981 births among teen moms aged between 15 and 19 while 6 out of 10 under aged moms from rural areas never had access to reproductive health education. 82% teens from the rural regions rarely or never discuss with their parents about their sex life debut, sexual and reproductive health education is optional in the educational system and the access of rural teens to contraceptive or sexual and reproductive health education is extremely limited. In 2018, the poverty rate for teens was 32% and the rate of social exclusion and poverty was 38%. The above statistics data are the consequences of the constant violations made by the local authorities on the health right of teens/young people, especially the violation of the sexual and reproductive rights and contraception, although Romania signed the CIPD Action Program with specific objective related to the reproductive health and other human rights treaties. Moreover, Romania doesn’t have a sexual and reproductive health national strategy or an approved HIV/AIDS strategy. In the situation in which the right to health of teens in Romania is constantly violated, Semper Musica Association, together with the Romanian partner, Center for Partnership and Equality – will increase its advocacy capacity to ask the local authorities to respect the right of teens to reproductive health thorugh 20 meetings with public authorities. Also, a study visit will be organized in Norway and with the help of Sex & Society Association, Semper Musica Association will have access to a best practice program of condom distribution inspired by the Norwegian model. Semper Musica Association will ask 17.053 rural teens about their access to contraception services and education, piloting the Norwegian condom distribution program in Romania, increasing the capacity of 1.000 rural teens to ask the public authorities to respect their health rights.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the gaps in access to sexual and reproductive education as part of health fundamental right. These gaps affect especially young people from rural or other disadvantaged areas therefore the project addressed them with priority.
The project adapted, implemented and promoted a national sexual education program and free distribution of condoms according to the Norwegian model. The fundamentals of the pilot program were set based an extended consultation involving more than 17,000 adolescents and young people who expressed their needs and concerns related to sexual and reproductive education. Within the program there were organized sexual education sessions in schools - delivered by medicine students, while sexual education sessions in rural areas were held by community nurses. The platform prezegratis.edreptultau.ro, designed according to the Norwegian model facilitated access to free condoms and sexual education. As a result, more than 120,000 condoms were distributed and more than 13,000 young people received information on sexual and reproductive health. Also, more than 1000 youth developed capacity to act in support to their rights regarding health. In order to be able to contribute to the development of policies in the field of sexual and reproductive health, the promoter engaged in a training and mentoring process to develop the capacity for lobby and advocacy.
The project came up with data (gathered in a report) regarding perceptions and needs of young people regarding sexual and reproductive health as part of the health rights. More than 13,000 young people received information on sexual and reproductive health and more than 1000 youth developed capacity to act in support to their rights regarding health. The promoter joined working groups and involved in dialogue with central and local authorities on the topic of sexual and reproductive health and connected areas. The project benefited from key inputs from the Norwegian partner Sex og Samfunn
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation with the Norwegian partner was the key issue in the project. Besides the initially planned activities related to facilitate contact to Norwegian NGOs and authorities to discuss the model of providing sexual education and free condoms, the partner contributed to the advocacy strategy and provided valuable input on how the topic of the project should be addressed in dialogue with decisions makers and church representatives.