On the 12th of August United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus celebrates Youth International Day, reaffirming and recognizing the central role of young people in promoting the well-being of their families, communities and nations. This year’s theme is “The Road to Sustainable Development Goals 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Production and Consumption”.
UNFPA is proud to partner with young people in more than 150 countries and territories around the world to promote their participation and leadership, enabling them to overcome barriers, spearhead innovations and unleash their full potential.
Special attention in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is given to quality education. Where they can get information, technology, financing, mentorship, and platforms for collaboration, young innovators are able to turn their ideas into transformative solutions. Improving teenage and youth education in the sphere of sexual and reproductive health reduces unwanted pregnancies and cases of HIV and STIs among young.
In 2015 the amount of Youth in Belarus aged 14-30 years old made 2 120 887 (Belstat, 2015). 1 777 470 young people come from towns and cities, 343 417 - from rural area.
In the beginning of 2014 teenagers and young people aged 15-24 years old made 12, 2% of Belarusian population. They remain the most vulnerable group from the sexual and reproductive health perspective. In 2015 every 21-st abortion was made by a teenage girl under 19. In 2015 50 % HIV cases were diagnosed among teenagers and young people. This means that we lack comprehensive sexuality education in Belarus.
Special attention UNFPA pays to promotion and protection of the teenage girls’ rights to sexual and reproductive health and life without violence, ensuring they are able to determine their own destinies. In order teenage girls can invest in the future development of their countries we need to promote principles of gender equality and challenge gender stereotypes in the families, workplace, communities and stimulate women participation in the economy and entrepreneurship. By doing this in 2030 we will create conditions and opportunities for teenage girl potential realization for the benefit of the whole society.
UNFPA calls on governments, development partners and other influencers to enact policies that promote young people’s development and human rights, and to measure progress across the Sustainable Development Goals that relate to adolescents and youth. Young people must be engaged as partners in achieving these goals, as they are the generation that will inherit our planet.
For more information please contact Ahniya Asanovich, UNFPA in Belarus Communication Specialist, tel. in Minsk: 327 45 27, mobile: 8 029 178 67 00 or by email: asanovich@unfpa.org.
