2 policy briefs on Adolescents' Perceptions of Healthy Relationships

The policy briefs are based on the project's 2-year participatory research with young people and are now part of the advocacy and dissemination phase.

The briefs include background information, findings and policy recommendations for each country. In both Tanzania and Bulgaria the researchers recommend involving young people themselves in discussions on healthy relationships, whether that be in relation to developing education programmes about sexuality and relationships or involving them in research. 

About the project

The project, headed by ISS Associate Professor Kristen Cheney and involving ISS Assistant Professor Auma Okwany as lead researcher for Tanzania, aims to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation by improving the safety and security of environments for children. Promoting healthy relationships can prevent violence by developing gender equitable attitudes and behaviours among young boys and girls.

The project utilizes participatory processes by training adolescents as peer researchers and advocates, and through the development and dissemination of our adolescent-centered Healthy Relationships model for policy-relevant research and advocacy.