By Brenna Matendere
Youth Advocates, an organisation that works with government and communities in safeguarding rights of children and young people has made a clarion call for alignment of laws on child protection.
Speaking at the regional engagement meeting held in Harare, Youth Advocates Executive Director Tatenda Songore said there is need to remove barriers that hinder children and young people from accessing SRHR services.
“At Youth Advocates we believe the solution lies in aligning laws and policies with the realities of young people’s lives,” he said.
“Restrictive age of consent provisions often mean adolescents are turned away from services they urgently need.”
Songore reiterated that by harmonizing these laws with international best practices, rights of young people and children will be promoted.
He urged strengthening confidentiality and youth-friendly service delivery to protect young people rather than punish them.
Said Songore:
“At the same time, the answer is not legal reform alone. We must invest in education, community dialogue, and digital platforms that empower adolescents to seek information and support without fear,” he said.
“When health systems, families, and policies work together to trust young people’s evolving capacity, we move from barriers to bridges, ensuring they can access the care that safeguards their health and future.”
Over the years, Youth Advocates have demonstrated experience with holistic programming for children, young people and women; integrating SRHR/HIV/GBV with livelihoods, climate action and social protection.
The organisation implements evidence-based programs that focus on impoverished areas in the community.
In addition, the organisation pioneers innovative grassroots programs that shift the focus from immediate behavioural factors to the structural drivers that directly and indirectly increase young people’s exposures to boot SRHR outcomes, HIV, poverty, gender inequality, sexual violence, public policies and lack of education.
About Author
