Who we are
Canadian Youth for Choice (CYC) is a network of young Canadians aged 12 to 29 who advocate for sexual and reproductive rights on a national level. CYC envisions a country where all young people can access the same high quality sexual and reproductive health information and services as adults, regardless of gender, location, religion, ethnicity, mental or physical ability, sexual orientation and/or socio-economic status.
CYC is the first Canadian pro-choice group for youth. Its unique approach means youth have the knowledge necessary to influence decisions about their health that directly affect themselves and their peers.
What we want
CYC seeks to increase young Canadians’ knowledge of their sexual and reproductive health rights. In doing so, youth are giving other youth the tools necessary to create a culture that endorses, rather than suppresses, their rights as sexual beings.
CYC seeks support in endorsing the Charter of Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth. This charter recognizes the equal rights youth have in defining and expressing their sexuality. It includes rights to knowledge and education, choice, healthcare and safety.
CYC seeks to influence sexual and reproductive health education in Canadian schools. Adapting a high quality, comprehensive national sexual health education strategy represents a significant opportunity to inform and prepare nearly all youth to make informed sexual choices. Sexual education has been proven to reduce the rates of sexually transmitted infections, reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and increase the use of contraception. Improving sexual education in Canada would mean having trained teachers who recognize and celebrate diverse sexual identities, the effects that emotional, mental and physical states can have on sexual expression, and the importance of youth having a choice to define their sexuality.
The Charter of Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms supports basic human sexual freedoms. All Canadians are entitled to rights to life, liberty, and security of the person, while having the freedoms of thought, belief, opinion and expression. In reality, these rights do not apply equally to youth. Youth face biases and judgment within their schools and social systems. Sexual education curriculums differ across the country, while some schools do not offer any sexual education at all.
CYC endorses the creation of a Charter of Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth. This charter offers youth the information necessary to assert their rights. These rights include: education and knowledge rights; choice rights; healthcare rights and safety rights.
Know Your Rights Campaign
This summer six CYC members are traveling the country to inform youth about their sexual and reproductive rights, while asking them and their MPs to endorse the Charter of Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth.
The tour will be divided into two segments, a western and an eastern tour. The western tour will begin July at stop at various locations, including the Craven Country Jamboree in Saskatchewan and Toronto’s Wakestock. The eastern tour will begin in August and will stop at the St. John’s Royal Regatta, the Toronto and Montreal Warped Tours as well as other locations. Along the way the youth will be attending festivals, fairs, concerts and events and engaging with politicians and other youth to gain support. CYC will be seen in lounge-like tents, where youth can participate in condom-unrolling races, voice their opinions on video, sign the Charter of Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth and postcards for MPs, and hang out in this fun and informative environment.
Why join CYC
When Canadian youth join CYC, they are given the opportunity to influence and shape the decisions that affect not only their rights- but the rights of their friends and peers for generations to come.
CYC members get the chance to travel Canada to attend sexual and reproductive health meetings, influence and share ideas, stay informed about the dynamic fields of sexuality and reproduction and cultivate relationships with fun, like-minded people.
What is pro-choice?
Supporting choice means supporting an individual’s right to control his or her sexual and reproductive health. Pro-choice individuals believe people deserve to define their sexuality for themselves. Pro-choice also means agreeing that people have rights to:
- • safe and reliable sexual health services;
• confidential and unbiased sexual and reproductive health information;
• safe and affordable contraception and barrier methods;
• decide whether and when to have sex;
• decide whether to marry; and
• having three pregnancy options (parenting, adoption and abortion).