Peer-to-peer information is power: The hotline equipping young people in Paraguay to exert their rights

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay

Hardly a day goes by when the phone doesn’t ring: Young people call and write to Paraguay’s peer-to-peer, comprehensive sexuality education hotline constantly to ask about menstruation, sexually transmitted infections, contraceptives and other issues.

Juan*, one of the hotline’s trained operators, remembers wondering about similar subjects when he was a teenager. “But now, I can answer those questions and make it easier for adolescents to exercise their rights,” the 21-year-old told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

EIS De Par a Par Hotline

The EIS De Par a Par hotline launched in 2020 as a safe space for young people to talk through often-taboo topics related to sex and sexuality. Since then, hundreds have called and messaged to receive free, factual and non-judgmental guidance from trained peer counsellors like Juan.

“Young people feel that they can freely express themselves and share their concerns with us,” he said. “This is reflected every day when they contact the line, even outside of business hours.”

Technology with a human touch

With stigma preventing open discussions of sexual and reproductive health, it can be difficult for young people to access the information they need to protect themselves, exert their rights and navigate change during adolescence.

Yet digital innovations like EIS De Par a Par have put the answers to urgent questions in the palm of teens’ hands. Research suggests more than nine in ten Paraguayans are smartphone users, while data from 2011 put children’s mobile phone ownership rate at 78 per cent.

Sustainable Development Goals

1. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. Goal 4: Quality Education
3. Goal 5: Gender Equality

Impact on Young Women and Girls

Access to such information can be life-changing, especially for young women and girls across the country, and disproportionately, the poorest among them. In 2021, 70 of every 1,000 adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 had a baby; nearly 10 per cent of deaths that occurred among this age group were related to pregnancy and childbirth. Preventing pregnancies, therefore, can save lives.

“Every girl is born with boundless potential. Yet child marriage, adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence derail the lives of far too many,” UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem has said. “We must act more boldly so that every girl, wherever she is, grows up safe in the knowledge that her body is her own and her future is hers to chart.”

Powerful conversations between peers

More than 20 young people make up the Somos Pytyvõhára organization, which runs the EIS De Par a Par hotline. In the Guaraní language, Pytyvõhára means “the one who helps”.

Juan and 19-year-old counsellor Leila* embody the spirit of the group’s name. Besides answering calls and messages from their peers, they also visit nearby hospitals to gather information on and confirm the schedules of adolescent-friendly health services.

Members of Somos Pytyvõhára also participate in events to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health issues and advocate against rights violations like gender-based violence. More than three in five Paraguayan women over the age of 18 reported being forced to confront sexual violence in their lifetime, according to a 2021 survey.

“The goal is for adolescents to feel comfortable and free to express their concerns to us, without fear of being judged,” Leila said of her work. “I firmly believe that by providing information, we can prevent situations of vulnerability and violence.”

* Names have been changed for privacy and protection

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article discusses the importance of comprehensive sexuality education and access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for young people. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The article highlights the role of the EIS De Par a Par hotline in providing factual and non-judgmental guidance to young people on topics related to sex and sexuality. This contributes to SDG 4, which focuses on quality education and the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed for sustainable development.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article mentions the importance of preventing child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and gender-based violence, which are harmful practices that violate the rights of women and girls. This relates to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The article highlights the need to provide information and support to young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to ensure they have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services. This aligns with SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities and promoting social, economic, and political inclusion for all.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The article mentions the advocacy work of the Somos Pytyvõhára organization against rights violations like gender-based violence. This relates to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and end violence and exploitation of children.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs

The article emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive sexuality education and access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for young people. This aligns with Target 3.7 under SDG 3.

Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

The article highlights the role of the EIS De Par a Par hotline in providing factual and non-judgmental guidance to young people on topics related to sex and sexuality. This contributes to Target 4.7 under SDG 4, which focuses on promoting sustainable development through education and the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

The article mentions the importance of preventing child marriage, which is a harmful practice that violates the rights of girls. This relates to Target 5.3 under SDG 5, which aims to eliminate harmful practices against women and girls.

Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences

The article emphasizes the need for universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for young people, particularly young women and girls. This aligns with Target 5.6 under SDG 5, which focuses on ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

The article highlights the importance of providing information and support to young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to ensure they have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services. This aligns with Target 10.2 under SDG 10, which focuses on promoting social, economic, and political inclusion for all.

Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

The article mentions the advocacy work of the Somos Pytyvõhára organization against rights violations like gender-based violence. This relates to Target 16.2 under SDG 16, which aims to end violence and exploitation of children.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 3.7 under SDG 3. It assesses the proportion of women who have access to and use modern methods of family planning, indicating the level of universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.

Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development, including gender equality and human rights, are mainstreamed at all levels in (a) national education policies, (b) curricula, (c) teacher education, and (d) student assessment

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 4.7 under SDG 4. It assesses the extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development, including gender equality and human rights, are integrated into national education policies, curricula, teacher education, and student assessment.

Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 5.3 under SDG 5. It assesses the proportion of women who were married or in a union before the age of 15 and before the age of 18, indicating the prevalence of child marriage.

Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 5.6 under SDG 5. It assesses the proportion of women who have the ability to make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care, indicating the level of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex and persons with disabilities

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 10.2 under SDG 10. It assesses the proportion of people living below 50 percent of the median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and disability, indicating the level of social and economic inclusion.

Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 16.2 under SDG 16. It assesses the number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex, age, and form of exploitation, indicating the level of protection against abuse, exploitation, and violence.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: unfpa.org