International Youth Day 2024: Our Work with Young People to Make Gender Equality a Reality 

Young people can have a big impact on helping to create change, after all, it’s their future they are shaping. August 12 marks International Youth Day, a day designated to draw attention to raising awareness on cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.

So, what is the change young people can help make when it comes to gender equality? We asked our partners working with young people, including Young Women for Awareness, Agency, Advocacy & Accountability (YW4A), what they are doing, and what they want their government to do, to deliver gender equality.

Young Women for Awareness, Agency, Advocacy & Accountability – South Sudan

Beina Everline Alex, Programme Officer

“I focus on several initiatives to promote gender equality. I raise awareness through discussions, workshops, and social media, and I advocate for inclusive practices in my personal and professional life. I mentor young women in the community, helping them overcome barriers and achieve their goals. I also support the enactment of the Anti-GBV bill and the implementation of the Maputo Protocol to reduce gender inequality in various fields. Continuous learning keeps me informed about gender issues, and I encourage others to do the same. Through these activities, I aim to contribute to the movement towards gender equality.

“To achieve gender equality, I want my government to strictly enforce existing laws, promote education initiatives for all genders, and support women in leadership roles across all sectors. Additionally, it should strengthen laws against gender-based violence, provide support services for survivors, and promote women’s economic empowerment. Comprehensive healthcare access, national awareness campaigns, regular monitoring of progress, and implementation of international gender equality protocols are also essential.”

Night Agnes Wani, Women’s Rights Activist

“In South Sudan, I actively promote gender equality through various initiatives. As a women’s rights activist and Trainer of Trainers Champion, I work with communities to address gender-based conflicts and ensure women’s voices are heard. I conduct workshops to empower women, educate men on gender equality, and advocate for policies that protect and promote equal opportunities.

“I want the South Sudanese government to implement and enforce laws protecting women’s rights and ensuring their participation in all spheres of life. This includes supporting women’s education and economic empowerment, ensuring equal representation in decision-making bodies, and enforcing penalties for gender-based violence while providing support services for survivors. Additionally, public awareness campaigns should challenge harmful gender stereotypes, and gender equality should be integrated into all national development plans and policies.”

Sidel Clemetine, Trainer of Trainers, YW4A

“I work to promote gender equality by supporting inclusive policies and raising awareness. I want the government to enforce equal pay, support victims of gender-based violence and ensure equal representation in leadership. Together, we can achieve true gender equality.”

Young Women for Awareness, Agency, Advocacy & Accountability – Kenya

Flavia Nyarangi, Trainer of Trainers, YW4A

“Through fem spaces, we have engaged young girls and women by educating and inviting them to forums initiated by women. These initiatives help them understand that gender equality is key to abolishing poverty and creating fairer societies and opportunities. It is crucial for duty bearers to recognize the importance of incorporating a gender approach when allocating county government resources, as this impacts youth involvement and representation.”

Fatima Ondicho, Paralegal and Human Rights Defender

“As a paralegal and human rights defender, I am dedicated to breaking barriers and advocating for the rights of all genders. True equality is a collective journey, and I am proud to be part of it.

“I urge our government to enact and enforce laws that protect women’s rights, making gender equality a reality for all. Through fem spaces, we have engaged young girls and women, educating and inviting them to women-led forums where they learn that gender equality is crucial for eliminating poverty and creating fairer societies. It is essential for duty bearers to incorporate a gender perspective when allocating county government resources, as this ensures that youth are effectively included and represented.”

Keziah Ibongia, Trainer of Trainers, YW4A

“I am educating my community on gender equality, as we believe that information is power. An equal society will make the world a better place. The government should be diligent and strict in ensuring that gender equality rules are upheld, even in private entities.”

Young Advocates Against Sexual Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean

Mariangelica Morillo, Participant of Equality Now’s course for Young Advocates Against Sexual Violence in Latin American and the Caribbean

“I leverage my various spaces of intervention as a young woman, psychologist, and volunteer to socialize and raise awareness about the imperative need for gender equality as a cross-cutting principle in all areas where human beings operate. I raise my voice as a woman against injustices, change generational patterns at the family level, and intervene with strong arguments against individual macho actions and the patriarchal system and structure.

“It is difficult to answer this given the current socio political situation in my country. We live under a dictatorship disguised as a progressive left that violates the rights of minorities and, through action and omission, violates the rights of girls, adolescents, and women across the country. Every day, we are affected by the government’s inaction in guaranteeing our rights, the systematic discrimination we experience as women, and the lack of strategic actions to prevent and eradicate sexual and gender-based violence. We deserve a government that looks out for and protects our interests and guarantees our fundamental rights.”

Laura Victoria Carmona, Participant of Equality Now’s course for Young Advocates Against Sexual Violence in Latin American and the Caribbean

“It is vital to undertake collective actions that address the questions arising from the grassroots of neighborhoods and peripheral contexts about gender equality. From these questions, our collective movement “Las Comadres” emerged. This collective seeks to uproot violence from daily life by focusing on care, self-care, and relationships, which are the foundations for building an equal society. 

“We use art as our tool, specifically through “batucada,” the use of drums. This allows us to feel part of a place and to take our voice to other places. This is precisely what we need at this moment: to decentralize voices and seek ways that come from the struggles of women in various contexts.

“The government needs to create much clearer and more effective differential and intersectional policies. When it comes to activating care pathways and seeking protection and justice, these are not equally available everywhere. The government should provide resources and actively listen to grassroots movements. In my town, Risaralda, feminist movements and grassroots cultural and artistic movements have become very active and have influenced public policies. However, there needs to be more recognition and commitment from the State and Government to seriously address the increasingly severe cases of child marriage, early unions and sexual and reproductive violence.”