Conference Calls for Increased Investments in Young People in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

ISTANBUL — Government and civil society representatives from 27 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia agreed to take action on priority areas to promote the health and well-being of the region’s young people. These include the integration of youth issues into national policies, the promotion of sexual and reproductive health of young people, and the improvement of sexual health education for young people across the region.

The decisions were taken at a regional conference, Investing in Youth: Path to Accelerated Development, which was convened in early May to accelerate policy actions and national commitments to address young people’s rights and needs across the region.

“We must provide all young people with the right skills and opportunities and promote their right to health, including sexual and reproductive health,” said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, in his opening address to the conference. “The benefits of these investments go a long way in a person’s lifetime, and for generations to come. Investing in young people is the smartest investment that we can make for our collective future.”

Participants at the conference took stock of achievements, lessons learned and remaining gaps regarding youth issues, identified priorities for addressing the rights and needs of young people in line with the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, and elaborated policy actions to advance the youth agenda in the region.

“Investing in the health and rights of young people is an investment in national development and in our future. Too often, the needs of young people for information, education and services are not met,” said Thea Fierens, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, at the conclusion of the conference. “Eastern Europe and Central Asia is the only region where HIV continues to rise, and a third of all new HIV infections are among young people. Our greatest assets are our young people and we must together find ways to help them realize their potential as productive members of society,” she added.

The conference’s concluding document calls on governments in the region to:

• To promote and accelerate development of youth-friendly health services based on assessment of youth needs and in accordance with human rights principles.
• Make the services and commodities affordable and available for youth, using various financing modalities to meet needs of all youth.
• Increase technical capacity of health professionals working with youth.
• Make comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education mandatory in all schools, delivered at all age sequenced levels, and in line with characteristics identified in the Almaty Resolution on Preventive Education.