Empowering youth: IMRO advocates for critical access to sexual and reproductive health information

Elias Hakizimana Mar 27, 2025 0 Comments

By Prince Boris Cyubahiro

Ihorere Munyarwanda Oranization (IMRO Rwanda) held a meeting to advocate for the rights of adolescents to access accurate information and services related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

The event, that took place in Kigali on March 26, 2025, brought together various media outlets, youth, and women-led organizations to explore effective advocacy strategies aimed at informing and empowering young people.

This gathering followed alarming findings from a research study conducted by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) in late 2023, revealing that a staggering 51% of children under the age of 12 have reportedly engaged in sexual intercourse.

The statistics highlight the urgent need for targeted advocacy and education initiatives to ensure that adolescents receive accurate information about sexual and reproductive health, especially in light of the rising prevalence of HIV among the youth.

Dr. Anicet Nzabonimpa, a Sexual, Reproductive, and Community Health Expert at RTSL, facilitated a training session for meeting participants, highlighting significant societal barriers rooted in culture and belief systems.

**Dr. Anicet Nzabonimpa, Sexual, Reproductive & Community Health Expert at RTSL, leading a session on cultural and belief-based barriers.**

He expressed particular concern for girls, who often face greater challenges than boys when it comes to accessing vital health information.

“There are significant challenges linked to people’s perceptions, particularly those based on culture and beliefs. This causes girls to lag behind since they encounter more obstacles than boys. Religious institutions play a substantial role in our country, especially in education, leading some to make misguided decisions regarding information and actions related to sexual and reproductive health,” Dr. Nzabonimpa noted.

He urged advocates to engage with religious institutions, stressing the need to prioritize children’s needs and educate communities on the importance of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted infections.

IMRO Rwanda organized this conference as a strategic initiative to disseminate accurate information through media channels and civil society organizations, collaboratively dismantling the barriers that hinder youth from accessing essential health services.

With adolescents comprising nearly 70% of Rwanda’s population, the meeting emphasized their right to access crucial SRH information and services.

The overall goal of the meeting is to enhance advocacy efforts for adolescents to gain access to accurate SRH information and services, empowering young people to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

As part of its ongoing efforts to cultivate a better future for children, IMRO Rwanda will continue to partner with journalists, youth, and civil society organizations to collect and disseminate factual information, ensuring essential support for the youth. This conference marks a critical step forward in advocating for adolescents’ rights concerning sexual and reproductive health.