Canadian Red Cross

Published purpose

In Mali, gender inequalities, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive health rights and early and forced marriage, are important issues. The project aims to respond to the needs of adolescents that the health system does not properly address. It helps to eliminate barriers to adolescents' access to quality services, while building their capacity for sexual and reproductive health rights decision-making. Project activities include: (1) training the network of youth leaders and community champions to mobilize their peers to share and define healthy relationships on reproductive health rights and how to prevent and respond to gender-based violence; (2) initiating awareness raising activities conducted among adolescents regarding the health and socio-economic benefits of delaying the age of marriage; and (3) integrate community-based women's groups and associations into project activities related to reproductive health, specifically improving the sexual and reproductive health rights of adolescents and their children (nutrition, prenatal counseling, emergency transportation).