Climate Chaos, SRHR Crisis: Weaving a Web of Strength, Solutions and Solidarity
The Summit of the Future is a landmark global convening to strengthen global governance and cooperation. This once-in-a-generation opportunity serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities.
The aim of the Summit is to:
1) accelerate efforts to meet existing international commitments by UN Member States, and,
2) take concrete steps to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Happening in September 22-23, 2024, and preceded by two Action Days (September 20-21, 2024), the Summit of the Future will culminate in adopting the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes. The Pact for the Future aims to be an action-oriented outcome document adopted by consensus.
While the current revision of the Pact for the Future explicitly mentions language related to the respect, protection, and fulfillment of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the importance of overcoming fragmentation and comprehensively addressing multidimensional, multisectoral challenges, it remains critical to highlight the interconnectedness of sexual and reproductive health and rights and climate justice. Despite significant efforts to promote a multidimensional approach to both issues, they are still overlooked, and explicit mentions of their relation are non-existent in international instruments.
In 2023, IYAFP started a participatory co-design process to develop a Youth Declaration on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Climate Justice. Through a series of online consultations in English, French, and Spanish, IYAFP convened young people from different parts of the world to gather their experiences, expertise, and vision on the interconnectedness of SHR and climate justice. This Youth Declaration was launched at UNFCCC COP28 and aims to serve as a powerful advocacy tool for young people working at the intersection of both issues. It contains a set of demands and recommendations for policymakers, outlines young people’s priorities, and reaffirms young people’s commitments to addressing SRHR and climate justice holistically.
At the Summit of the Future, IYAFP will be hosting a side event on 21 September 2024 that will focus on fostering partnerships and solidarity among advocates working in the SRHRJ and the climate justice field. This will present a unique opportunity for world leaders to hear young people’s voices and to acknowledge the importance and interconnectedness of SRHR and climate justice.