Supporting Adolescents
and Youth
Half of the world's people are under the age
of 25. This includes the largest-ever generation of adolescents
who are approaching
adulthood in a rapidly changing world.
A common thread, however, runs through all of
their lives: the aspiration for a better future. This aspiration
is bolstered by the Millennium Development
Goals agreed to by world leaders in 2000. Investment
in young people is fundamental to achieving these goals.
Guided by the ICPD and related international
agreements, UNFPA places a high priority on safeguarding young
people's rights, promoting gender equality
and equity and broadly supporting their successful transition
to adulthood. The Fund places particular emphasis on reaching
out to those who are living in poverty or in other harsh
circumstances. It recognizes that opportunities for learning
and for protecting the health of young people (including sexual
and reproductive health) are crucial to their reaching their
full
potential. In
the era of HIV/AIDS, this can
also be a matter of life and death.
UNFPA is working with a wide range of partners
and with young people themselves to encourage their healthy development
through programmes that are participatory,
rights-based, culturally sensitive and locally driven.
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