SBH youth community takes part in the International Youth Day

Letter from the SBH Youth community:

The International Youth Day is an annual awareness day designated by the United Nations on August 12. The day is seen as an opportunity for governments, organisations and individuals to focus their attention on various issues facing young people around the world. 

We, the SBH youth community, would like to mark this occasion this year. Our goal is to raise awareness of spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBH) and the issues facing young people with these conditions when it comes to sexuality.

We need to remember that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 8 establishes that States Parties should ”combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life”. So do not forget that we are taking about human rights!

Marcus from Ireland and Mirela from Croatia created a roleplay video about a young guy with spina bifida visiting his general practitioner about his incontinence during sex with his girlfriend. Rui from Portugal recorded a video about a young man with spina bifida going on a date with an able-bodied woman who asks him some questions about his sex life. 

In cooperation with IF, some members of the SBH youth community created posters highlighting various issues around disability and sexuality, such as incontinence during sex, and the need for people with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus to be seen as sexual beings and deserving of relationships like everyone else. 

We encourage you to join us on social media and share these posters and videos within your network. Young people with SBH raise their voices about their sexuality, do you want to break taboos with us?

Happy International Youth Day for all from the SBH youth community!”

Marcus Ward, Mirela Bukovac and Rui Pedro Gaspar.

See here the materials to be shared on social media:

Roleplay video of Marcus and Mirela
Roleplay video of Rui
Facebook album with posters 

Check IF Twitter account and Facebook page to join the awareness action.