Giving Priority to the Needs of Young People in Egypt – and Elsewhere

In recent days, young people in Egypt have been sending a clear message not only to the Egyptian authorities but to the entire international community that they are catalysts for change. They have been at the forefront of the protests, leading the rallies and asking for democratic reforms that allow them to face the future with hope.

“Protesters are moved by different reasons,” said Ziad Rifai, UNFPA Representative in Egypt. “There are youth who want more job opportunities and better working conditions, some of them desire greater political participation, while others claim for a political change.”

Youth pitching in to help

Beyond their participation in the demonstrations, youth have shown a great solidarity and volunteerism, Mr. Rifai explained. “When the police forces pulled out, the young people of Cairo were the first to respond by coming out to guard their neighbourhoods,” he said. “They stayed up all night, around the clock, organizing themselves to protect communities from looters and were also in the streets directing the traffic.”

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, recognizes both the power of young people and the need to better address their concerns, promote their development and uphold their rights in Egypt and worldwide.

In his inaugural address to the Executive Board this week, for example, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin emphasized the priority that the Fund would place on increasing support to youth in their pursuit of freedom, participation and dignity. “Investing in youth, their reproductive health and gender equality can help put countries on a path to accelerated economic growth and equitable development,” he said.

Youth status in Egypt

Currently, Egypt is undergoing a demographic transition with a marked ‘youth bulge’. According to the recent Survey on Young People in Egypt, which UNFPA supported, 62 per cent of the population is under 29 (almost 40 per cent is between the ages of 10 to 29). Throughout the coming decade, the country will have the largest youth cohort ever making its way to adulthood. Success or failure in policies in the areas of education, employment or health will have a decisive impact on youth, according to the survey.

Almost 7 per cent of young people aged 10-29 are illiterate. Most young people (around 73 per cent) are outside the labour force, many because they are in school (46.6 per cent). There is a significant gender gap in employment status and force participation. About a third of males (more than 34 per cent) of males compared to only 6 per cent of females are engaged in waged employment. As a result of the difficulties they face in Egypt, around 30 per cent of young males expressed an intention to migrate, mainly to Gulf countries.

Egypt’s overall policy environment for reproductive health with regard to youth and adolescents has been continuously improving: the Constitution, for instance guarantees the right of women to comprehensive health care. Nevertheless, in practice, most reproductive health services are only accessible to married couples.

Scaling up the participation of young people

“Results from the survey clearly show that we need to pay more attention to young people,” said Mr. Rifai. “It is crucial to expand their participation in the design and implementation of policies and programmes so that their aspirations are better addressed. If young people feel frustrated and their needs are not fulfilled, then this could lead to difficult political situations, as we have seen now.”

Based on the evidence provided by this study, UNFPA has included scaling up the engagement of young people in its work plan. “For the first time we have included a whole output to enhance the participation of youth in the development work, including in the provision of services,” Mr. Rifai said.

UNFPA will also continue facilitating the access of young people to sexual and reproductive health information and services; improving the quality of services at the delivery points by supporting youth-friendly clinics and strengthening the capacity of teaching hospitals, he added. The Fund also supports Y-PEER, a network of organizations working in peer education to promote healthy lifestyles of young people.
 

— Maria Larrinaga