Project Youth Protection: quality sexual & reproductive health and rights, protection from GBV, mental healt, civic engagement opportunities

Poor access to health services and gender-based violence also limit opportunities and the ability of Palestinian young people to thrive in society. There is a shortage of health personnel trained to provide quality sexual and reproductive health care (SRH) for young people and a persistent gap in GBV and mental health screening in perinatal care. While evidence in this specific field remains limited, studies from 2016/2017 showed that 14-19% of women could face post-partum depression in the West Bank while violence in pregnancy was affecting more than 6% of pregnant women in the Gaza Strip. In addition, when SRHR/GBV services and information are available, they are rarely adapted to young people, or “youth-friendly”, and providers often lack the skills in order to ensure adequate communication, privacy and confidentiality. Young people, especially young women, are the most affected of all groups due to the absence of inclusive SRH practices and services, including family planning. Due to existing social norms, family planning is hardly accessible to unmarried people while young women are pressured to focus on their marriageability and their reproductive capacity. At the same time, there is no comprehensive sexual education (CSE) in schools, and when teachers address it, it is generally focused on the biological rather than the emotional and psychological dimensions of the transition from adolescence to adulthood. There is also a limited understanding of STDs/HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancies, and contraception, which is damaging to both young women and men. The Youth Protection and Civic Engagement (SO2) project exists to respond to the multiple and interconnected challenges faced by young people in Palestine, including exposure to violence, limited access to quality protection and health services, and restricted opportunities to participate safely in civic life. Within a context marked by prolonged crisis and social vulnerability, the project aims to ensure that young women and men can access integrated, rights-based services, have their rights protected and promoted, and actively engage in their communities as agents of positive change. To achieve this, the project adopts a comprehensive and coordinated approach built on partnerships with civil society organizations, academic institutions, international and local NGOs, and relevant Palestinian ministries, combining service delivery with capacity development, advocacy, and systems strengthening. The project implements a wide range of activities, including improving access to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health services, strengthening mental health and psychosocial support, raising awareness on human and digital rights, and supporting youth-led civic engagement initiatives. It also invests in evidence generation, knowledge sharing, and institutional capacity building to ensure sustainability and alignment with national systems. As a result, young people increasingly access quality services, experience improved well-being, and are better equipped to claim their rights and participate in public life. The project is implemented across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, targeting youth aged 15 to 29, with particular attention to the most vulnerable groups. It contributes to the broader objective of empowering youth as active and critical citizens within the Belgian cooperation portfolio for Palestine 2022–2026. Beyond its duration, the project seeks to leave strengthened institutions, scalable service models, and empowered youth networks that continue to promote protection, inclusion, and civic engagement. The contextual analysis allowed to identify the main challenges and bottlenecks facing Palestinian young people in the area of human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the prevention and response to GBV, as well as mental health. As a response, the aim of the intervention is that “Young women and men have better access to quality mental health and sexual and reproductive health services and information, their protection and well-being are enhanced, and they are empowered to claim their rights and actively engage in their community.”

R1: Youth human rights are promoted and their opportunities for civic engagement are increased R2: Enhanced protection from GBV and access to quality sexual & reproductive health and rights among youth R3: Improved mental health and well-being of young people and their care-giver