A rights based approach combines human rights, development and social activism to promote justice, equality and freedom. Key to this approach is that it holds powerful people and institutions accountable for their responsibilities to those of less power and supports the less powerful to claim their rights. In IPPF’s work, implementing a rights ased approach to youth sexual and reproductive health programmes involves empowering young people to take action and to claim what is their due, rather then passively accepting what adults (government, teachers and other stakeholders) decide for them. A righ ased approach works towards access to quality youth friendly services and comprehensive gender sensitive sex positive sexuality education for all young people.