Flickr: Bill Dickinson
#ShowYourSelfie to make sure the rights of adolescents and youth are at the heart of the Post-2015 Agenda
On July 11th the world population is estimated to reach 7,137,661,030, yet World Population Day isn’t marked on many calendars. But today isn’t just about impressive numbers; each year World Population Day focuses on issues that directly impact our ability to sustain our growing population. This year’s theme is “Invest in young people today, to ensure a Bright Future” and Global Citizens is excited to be partnering with UNFPA to do our part. Adolescents (10-15) and youth (15-24) are arguably the most important demographics when it comes to international development, and yet they are often overlooked. Nearly half of the world’s population, 2.9 billion, are under age 25. I fall into this demographic myself. Whether or not you do too, there is a lot to be done when it comes to including youth in our efforts to end poverty.
Even though 85% of the world’s youth live in developing nations, young people are rarely the focus of aid efforts in part because youth can be considered part of every other problem associated with poverty. Young peoples' issues tend to be lumped in with other issues because there are always youth in the communities affected by the lack of sanitation, reproductive health, or education. Also, young people are rarely in positions of power where they can have their voices heard. Though youth aren’t always seen as an important group, there is a lot to be said for targeting the youth demographic in aid plans. They can be especially vulnerable. Most people become sexually active before they turn 20 and don’t have access to sex education, putting them at risk for unplanned pregnancy and STDs. Young people are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed. But with these vulnerabilities there is also strength and potential.
If youth are often forgotten because they are affected by all of the problems of poverty, there is an upside: If we invest in young people, all other issue areas will see progress. Young people can even transform an entire nation’s economy. In Uganda, for example, youth makes up 75% of the population. Having a population that skews so young gives developing nations great economic potential because so many people are entering the workforce. Statisticians call this a “demographic dividend”. Similar dividends are what helped China and other East Asian countries quickly grow their economies. But the “demographic dividend” can only be reaped if we invest in young people. Investment includes the basics of living like water, sanitation, safety from violence and access to family planning-but there is more. To truly invest in youth, the world needs to recognize adolescents and young people as a unique population with unique needs. Country governments have an important part to play in making this happen. Specifically, we need to tell world governments that all young people should have the following:
· Education, at least to secondary level
· Employment skills and opportunities
· Comprehensive sexuality education
· Quality healthcare, including access to family planning services and information
· Safety from violence and harmful practices
· Participation in decision making
On a personal note, and as a young person myself, I hope we will be even closer to the goal of empowering the young people living in the developing world by next year's World Population Day.
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