Atlántico Promotes Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Youth During Andean Week 2026

Policy Framework and Vulnerable Population Targets

The departmental event aligns with the subregional PLANEA 2026–2030 framework established by the Andean Health Organization (ORAS-CONHU) and the National Intersectoral Policy on Sexuality, Sexual Rights and Reproductive Rights 2026–2035, outlined in Joint Resolution 1350 of 2026.

At the departmental level, the Secretariat of Health drew participants directly from the Network of Youth-Friendly Health Services (SSAAJ), incorporating municipal delegations and support teams, bringing the total logistical attendance to 300 people. María Patricia Arias, Secretary of Health for Atlántico, explained the core intent of the gathering:

We held this departmental meeting to promote the comprehensive development of young people and prevent teenage pregnancy through recreational activities and cultural expressions from the 22 municipalities, in coordination with the Secretariat’s Friendly Services program and its local coordinators.

Operational Goals and Experiential Learning Stations

The departmental meeting focused on four primary operational and pedagogical targets. These included strengthening knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive rights, modern contraceptive methods, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Organizers also aimed to dismantle social stigmas surrounding reproductive health, foster self-care and life skills, and solidify institutional referral pathways between educational institutions, healthcare centers, and social protection agencies.

To achieve these objectives, facilitators divided the program into four interactive workshop stations. Carlos Fabián Algarín, a psychologist participating in the event, described the methodology used at the life-skills station:

We developed four projects across four different stations. One of them was ‘Life Project and Life Skills,’ where the young people participated in a playful activity designed to help them learn to envision their future based on their own experiences. The activity involved crossing a rope with various obstacles while blindfolded, followed by an emotional analysis of the experience. The rope represented life and its challenges. We listened to the young people; each one shared an experience very close to their own reality and compared it to the exercise they had just completed.

Scope and Institutional Coordination of the Semana Andina 2026

The initiative treats pregnancy in minors under 14 years old as an expression of sexual violence, activating immediate protection routes under zero-tolerance policies. The framework also incorporates the enforcement of Ley 2447 of 2025 to dismantle child marriage practices across urban and rural zones, while expanding access to modern long-acting contraception and confidential adolescent health services.

The closing ceremony took place at the Sede Campestre de la Banda de Baranoa. It featured performances by the Majestuosa Banda de Colombia—formerly known as the Banda de Baranoa—which entertained over 50 youth and municipal delegations with a repertoire spanning reguetón, salsa, vallenato, and cumbia. Additional operational support during the departmental mobilization included interinstitutional coordination with local EPS and IPS providers, the ESE Hospital Local de Baranoa, the Cruz Roja, the Defensa Civil, and the Patrulla Púrpura of the Policía Nacional.