Young Activists at the 57th HRC: Reflections from Aizirek 

Hi Everyone! My name is Aizirek, and I’m a decolonial feminist activist from Kyrgyzstan. Since June, I’ve been working as an Advocacy and Communications Intern at CHOICE! As my internship comes to an end, I want to reflect on one of the key events I attended during this time: the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). This experience was incredibly important for me as a young activist to address the challenges young people face at such high-level forums.   

On a personal note, attending the HRC was deeply meaningful. As a child, I dreamed of participating in a UN event. Of course, back then, I wasn’t aware of the institutional issues within the UN or its frequent ineffectiveness in achieving social justice. Still, stepping into the UN building was a heartwarming moment that felt like fulfilling the dream of my younger self.    

CHOICE’s Role at the HRC 

CHOICE played a significant role at the HRC. One of our key missions was language advocacy. We provided input on various resolutions through the lens of meaningful and inclusive youth participation (MIYP) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).