The performance, supported by the chair, was received with a lot of applause and support from the attending NGO participants. During the theatre piece the young people revealed their bright yellow t-shirts with their logo and handed out flyers in which they state that young women are key actors in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action as they are the ones who can ensure continuation of the process. The Youth for Women’s Rights urge all the actors in the Beijing+5 process to promote and protect young women’s rights as human rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights, and to ensure youth participation at all levels of policy and decision making. During the day other initiatives followed to support international women’s day like a clothes line with t-shirts and slogans hanging at the corner of 44^th street and 1^st avenue, and songs to advocate the free choice for women and especially young women.

In the days to come the Youth for Women’s Rights will continue to advocate for young women’s rights to influence the outcomes of the Preparatory Committee in a positive way. They will lobby with their amendments to the official document, and spread fact sheets that give the true facts about for instance young women and violence, economy and sexual and reproductive health.

The young people gathered in the Youth for Women’s Rights urge all actors to start talking with youth and not about youth.

Background

Five years ago the fourth world conference on women was held in Beijing, China, where major steps forward were taken for the advancement of women. Now five years later Governments gather to review the progress that has been made and to take stock of what has been achieved and obstacles encountered, in the implementation of the Platform for Action. As the last session in preparation for the Special Session of the General Assembly in June, governments are meeting from 3 - 17 March in New York for the PrepCom on Beijing+5.

Before and during the PrepCom young people in support of the Beijing Platform for Action gathered to form the 'Youth for Women's Rights’. This is a group of young people from different countries and backgrounds, who are actively involved in the Beijing+5 process in their own countries or regions. They belong to different coalitions like the Youth Coalition on ICPD+5,the Latin American and Caribbean Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, the Network of Asia and Pacific Youth, the African Youth network and other organizations in support of young women's rights and the Beijing Platform for Action.

For more information please contact the Youth for Women’s Rights through:

Youthwr@hotmail.com