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Informed Decision

An informed decision is a decision that is made when someone has access to all of the relevant facts and information at hand. CHOICE advocates for young people’s right to access scientifically accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information surrounding their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), so that young people are able to make up their own minds and make informed decisions surrounding their SRHR.

Initiated and executed by young people

In the CHOICE Flower of Participation this is a situation where young people both initiate and execute a program or project. Adults are only involved in a supporting role. This is a considered a form of meaningful and inclusive youth participation.

Initiated by adults, shared decisions with young people

In the CHOICE Flower of Participation this is a situation where projects or programs are initiated by adults, but decisions are shared with young people. This is considered a form of meaningful and inclusive youth participation.

Initiated by young people, shared decisions with adults

In the CHOICE Flower of Participation this is a situation where programs or projects are initiated by young people while decisions are shared equally between adults and young people. These projects are supportive and motivational for young people, while, at the same time, young people can benefit from the experience and expertise of adults. This is considered a form of meaningful and inclusive youth participation.

Intergender

Intergender is a gender identity under the nonbinary and transgender umbrella terms. Intergender people have a gender identity that is in the middle between the binary genders of female and male, and may be a mix of both. For more information see the nonbinary wiki website. 

International Conference on Population and Development

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) also sometimes referred to simply as "Cairo 1994" or "Cairo", took place in Cairo, Egypt in 1994. The conference focused on population issues, including immigration, infant mortality, birth control, family planning, education and unsafe abortion. The conference delegates achieved consensus on the following four goals which are enshrined in the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA): (1) universal education, (2) reduction of infant and child mortality, (3) reduction of maternal mortality, and (4) access to reproductive and sexual health services including family planning. The ICPD PoA is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) helps the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) to monitor, review, and assess the implementation of the ICPD PoA at the national, regional, and international level and advises ECOSOC on this progress. The CPD also hosts a yearly event at UN  headquarters in New York where delegates from around the world come together to discuss key thematic issues related to implementation of the ICPD PoA, and to negotiate a series of action-oriented outcome documents in the form of agreed conclusions and resolutions based on one of the issues highlighted in the PoA.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted alongside the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1966, after the decision was made to separate human rights into two categories: (i) civil and political rights, and (ii) economic, social and cultural rights. The ICCPR addresses civil and political rights, including the right to life, freedom from religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights, and the right to due process and a fair trial. It is part of the International Bill of Human Rights along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The ICCPR is a legally binding document, and compliance to the convention is monitored by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Countries that have ratified the ICCPR are expected to submit periodic reports detailing the situation of children’s rights in the country, as well as progress made towards the local implementation of the ICCPR.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was adopted alongside the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1966, after the decision was made to separate human rights into two categories: (i) civil and political rights, and (ii) economic, social and cultural rights. The ICESCR addresses different economic, social and cultural rights, including labour rights, the right to health, the right to education, and the right to an adequate standard of living. It is part of the International Bill of Human Rights along with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The ICESCR is a legally binding document, and compliance to the convention is monitored by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR). Countries that have ratified the ICESCR are expected to submit periodic reports detailing the situation of children’s rights in the country, as well as progress made towards the local implementation of the ICESCR.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a theoretical framework frequently used to explore overlapping (intersecting) social identities and systems of oppression, domination, and discrimination. According to this theoretical lens, to understand social problems like discrimination in access to services or the fulfillment of human rights, you need to look at how different biological, social, and cultural categories such as age, race, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, geographical location, ability, sexual orientation, religion, caste, etc. interact (intersect) with each other on multiple and simultaneous levels to shape an individual’s experience and opportunities.

Intersex

“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of situations in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the 'typical' presentation of the ‘male’ or ‘female’ biological sex. There are different ways in which a person can be intersex. For example, a person might be born with genitals or internal sex organs that fall outside of what is considered female or male. Other intersex people have combinations of chromosomes that are different than XY (associated with male) or XX (associated with female). Some other people might be born with external genitals (those on the outside) that fall into the typical male/female categories but their hormones or internal organs do not.  Being intersex is a naturally occurring variation in humans and it is not a medical problem. Like the term gender, intersex is a socially constructed category that reflects real biological variation: there is a naturally occurring spectrum of sex anatomy that goes beyond the typically ‘male/female’ sex.