Youmo in practice
– A guide on how to talk to young migrants about health, sexuality and gender identity
In 2015, youth health counsellors across Sweden noticed a dramatic increase in questions from young asylum seekers. Around 70 000 asylum seekers, under the age of 18, came to Sweden in a short period of time. Language barriers – most spoke only languages such as Dari, Arabic or Tigrinya – made it difficult or impossible to provide answers, especially when it comes to sexual health.
At the same time the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society, MUCF, presented a report on access to sexual and reproductive rights for young people in Sweden. That report also stressed that young migrants had lower access to their sexual and reproductive rights than other young people in Sweden. In response, the project Youmo was founded.