SRHR for Adolescents and Youth
About CoP
Share-Net Bangladesh brings together the Communities of Practice (CoP) that consist of social and medical researchers, development practitioners, health workers, government officials and legal experts to engage with one another to find solutions and take critical issues forward. The purpose of the CoP is to have a systematised, focussed and demand driven approach and a clearer focus on maximising impact by using knowledge effectively for improved SRHR practices and policies. The CoP of Share-Net Bangladesh is aligned with the concept of the CoP of Share-Net International.
Objectives and expectations from the CoP on ‘SRHR for Adolescents and Youth’
One fifth of the population in Bangladesh are adolescents – about 36 million. SRHR is an essential part of their lives. A few adolescent friendly health services are available in Bangladesh but their catchment and awareness both are limited. In order to have the targeted outcomes from this CoP, the objectives and expectations are as follows:
- The COP members will meet three times before December 2021.
- The COP will discuss youth and adolescent SRHR issues and expected to provide substantial input for the narrative report development.
- All the members are expected to join in the knowledge fair and contribute in the discussions.
Context of SRHR for Adolescents and Youth in Bangladesh
Adolescence is the most vulnerable period in a person’s life, as during this period they go through many changes related to physical and mental growth. However, the cultural context of Bangladesh does not allow them to ask questions about their own bodies, they have no clear ideas from where they can seek services. This leads to adolescents engaging in risky behaviour, such as practicing unsafe sex and wto browse harmful sites in the internet that may misguide them or to provide them wrong/unscientific information about their body and sexual desire. Therefore, adolescents suffer from lack of information and services and they fail to develop a congenial service seeking behaviour.
As young people experience the change they go through themselves, they are in the best position to draw everyone’s attention to the most pressing concerns being faced by them, and can offer innovative practical solutions.
Formation of the CoP on ‘SRHR for Adolescents and Youth’
In the year 2020, “SRHR for Adolescents and Youth” was chosen as the focused topic of Share-Net Bangladesh. The biggest annual event on SRHR in Bangladesh, the Knowledge Fair 2020 was focused on this theme. With adolescent and youth SRHR being the central focus of Knowledge Fair 2020, the aim was to contribute towards improving adolescents’ and young people’s SRHR by providing more opportunities, to enable them to know their rights, share their knowledge, and create networks for the improvement of their own SRHR. The Co-Creation Conference 2021, which was hosted by Share-Net Bangladesh was also focused on this theme. The Communities of Practice (CoP) formed on this topic contributed to the above mentioned events and programs through constructive discussions and producing important materials to work on for the Co-Creation Conference 2021. SN BD has actively involved young people through its activities of Youth Hub, Young Researcher Fellowship and a Community of Practice (CoP) Meetings.
In preparation for the Co-Creation Conference held on 25th to 28th January and 3rd February 2021, the CoP members were obligated to do the following:
- The Chair of this COP was responsible to share the key discussion points to the ICOP (International Community of Practice).
- COP members were welcome to join the ICOP.
- Members or their nominated experts were expected to join in the Co-creation conference.
The Chair and the Members
- Chair: Dr Julia Ahmed, Independent Consultant (Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, Health System Strengthening, Gender Mainstreaming)
- Members of the CoP:
| Sl. | Name | Organisation |
| 1 | Antara Farnaz Khan | Orodhho Foundation |
| 2 | Eashita Farzana Haque | Population Council |
| 3 | Dr. Khadija Mitu | Chittagong University |
| 4 | Mahbub Alam | Pathfinder International |
| 5 | Mariam Akhter | Jubo Unnoyon Odhioptor |
| 6 | Dr. Fariha Haseen | Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) |
| 7 | Dr. Afroza Bulbul | Dhaka University |
| 8 | S. M. Shaikat | SERAC |
| 9 | Humaira Farhanaz | UNFPA |
| 10 | Farhana Shams Shumi | UNICEF |
| 11 | Nurunnahar | BRAC |
- Contact: To contact us directly please write to Jannatul Munia, Share-Net Bangladesh Coordinator at jannat@redorangecom.com
Resources on “SRHR for Adolescents and Youth” produced by the CoP
Check out Dr. Mohammad Jaynal Haque’s (Programme Manager, MCH, DGFP) interview with Share-Net Bangladesh on SRHR for Adolescents and Youth below:
