Advocates for Youth works to educate Members of Congress, State Legislators and local elected officials on a variety of issues that impact the sexual and reproductive health of young people.

With a new Congress and a new President, 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.  Advocates also supports federal legislation that addresses discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

The key components to Advocates’ federal legislative strategy are to:

• Protect Access to Safe and Legal Abortion
• Renew the Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior”
• Invest in Comprehensive Sex Education
• Remove the Age Restrictions for Access to Emergency Contraception
• Ensure a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that Addresses the Needs and Concerns of Young People
• Ensure School Safety and Equality for All Students Regardless of Race, Gender or Sexual Orientation