News
UNFPA Conference Calls for Renewed Commitment to Invest in Young People
- 12 May 2011
ISTANBUL -- Ministers and other high-level officials from Eastern Europe and Central Asia agreed to an action plan to increase investments in young people during a youth regional conference that concluded here yesterday.
Organized and hosted by UNFPA, the Investing in Youth: Path to Accelerated Development conference brought together government officials, parliamentarians, youth leaders, and representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil society from 27 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The three-day conference took stock of achievements, lessons learned and gaps in the region on youth issues; identified programme priorities to address the needs and rights of young people; and suggested policies that could move the region’s youth agenda forward in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the World Programme of Action on Youth (WPAY).
In his address to the conference, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin called on governments to provide an enabling environment that would allow young people to reach their full potential. He also underlined the importance of adolescent women and men learning about sexual and reproductive health so that they can care for themselves and safeguard their future.
“As older people, we must give young people the space to live their lives and reach their expectations for health,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “Empowering young people with information and education, so that they can make reproductive health choices later in life, is the key to national development.”
Thea Fierens, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, expressed her confidence that “the recommendations of this conference will help accelerate the development of affective youth policies and programmes throughout the region.”
Contact Information:
Raquel Wexler
Telephone: 1 212 297-5073 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1 212 297-5073 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: Wexler@unfpa.org
