Advocates for Youth champions efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. We envision a world in which young people in all countries and societies have access to science-based and accurate information and the confidential health care services, including access to contraception and condoms they need to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and unintended pregnancy.

Advocates believes it can best serve the field by boldly advocating for a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health. Advocates believes the best ways to effectively support the needs of young people both domestically and internationally is to support their meaningful participation and leadership in the development of policies that affect their lives. This vision is guided by our “Rights. Respect. Responsibility.^®” philosophy and is rooted in the belief that access to accurate sexual health information and confidential health care is an inalienable human right. 

Advocates believes that the time has come for a new approach to adolescent sexual and reproductive health that includes dismantling failed abstinence-only programs, implementing comprehensive sex education programs, addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on youth, providing confidential access to birth control and removing the unnecessary age restriction on emergency contraception, increasing international family planning, and prioritizing youth sexual and reproductive health and rights within global health programs. Advocates also supports federal legislation that addresses discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Visit the Federal, State and U.S. Foreign Policy sections to learn more about Advocates’ policy priorities.