11 October 2016, Vientiane Capital – Lao Youth Union, Lao Women Union, Ministry of Planning and Investment and United Nations Population Fund held a press conference to mark the International Day of Girl Child under the theme: “Investing in Adolescent Girls for Sustainable Development” today at the Lao Youth Union.
This press conference marks the beginning of a unique 15 days media campaign from 11-25 October to generate more awareness on issues adolescent girls and a call to everyone for more investments in adolescent girls in order to ensure the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The linkage between adolescent girls and each goal will be highlighted. The success of 2030 Agenda will depend on whether the potential of everyone including adolescent girls are realized or not
The 15 days campaign will end on the 25 October 2016 and coincides with the launch of the State of World Population Report entitled “10: How our future depends on a girl at this decisive age” and an Adolescent Research Day to emphasize the importance of evidence and data for addressing the needs of adolescent girls. .
Today’s 60 million 10 years old girls around the world represent a challenge and an opportunity. Girls in many parts of the world face a wall of obstacles to their health and rights when they reach age 10, the start of adolescence which is a significant period that could determine the rest of their lives and their countries.
In Lao PDR, there are 700,230 adolescent girls aged 10–19. Considerable overall progress was made in education and health in the past decades; however, there are still a number of issues that these girls are facing including lack of education and job opportunity, and poor health and nutrition status. More than 42,000 adolescent girls never attended school. One in 4 girls drop out of school.
H.E Mr. Khamlien Pholesna (PhD), Vice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) said: “half of our population are young people and half of these young people are girls. They are our current and future labour force. To enable the country to fully realize the demographic dividend, we must ensure that young people in particular adolescent girls, who are often lagging behind, are at the heart of our countries development agenda. The 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan puts a great focus on human resource development. It is a Government’s priority to ensure that all Lao people, women and men, can reach their full potential and become productive, healthy and happy citizens.”
Some girls, on the verge of adolescence, see limitless possibilities ahead. Unfortunately, others may be forced to marry and become a mother by the age of 15 and facing the many health risks attached to early pregnancy. Lao PDR still has the highest proportion of early marriage and early pregnancy in the ASEAN region, in which 1 in 5 girls aged 15–19 have already gave birth.
“This is unacceptable. A girl must have the opportunity to decide her own future. Whenever a girl’s potential goes unrealized we all lose and we will not be able to achieve SDG 5 – gender equality,” said Ms Thoummaly Vongphachanh, Vice President of Lao Women Union.
The inspirational 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015 by the global community, urges countries to set national targets for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It promises to help transform the futures of millions of 10-years-old girls who have traditionally left behind. This year is the kick-off of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, UNFPA together with the Lao government will work in partnership to call for greater investment in adolescent girls that can greatly contribute to the achievement of the goals.
Ms Frederika Meijer said: “It is my conviction that our joint campaign will increase our knowledge on the adolescent girl’s issues and diminish the obstacles to her development. It is my hope that over the next five years we can establish meaningful multi-sectoral partnerships for better investments in adolescent girls.”
The press-conference successfully ended with the launch of social media campaign on the adolescent girl initiative for sustainable development including the introduction of “Noi” – a 10 years old girl who is representing all adolescent girls aged 10–19 years old in Lao PDR. Her story will be told in the next 15 days and everyone will get to know her better on 25 October.
“Through the partnership of four organizations, we have created “Noi”, a girl about 10 year old, to represent all Lao adolescent girls in order to highlight some of the issues that are faced by adolescent girls in Lao PDR. Our aim is to call for stronger partnerships for adolescent girls. It is our hope that “Noi” will be owned by all of partners beyond the four agencies,” stated H.E. Mr. Alounxay Sounalath, Deputy General Secretary, Lao Youth Union.
Mr. Alounxay Sounalath also added that “we will work hard together to ensure that in the next 15 years, “Noi” will grow up healthy, in a safe environment and with access to information and the services she needs so that she is able to make decision for her own future. Join us all to welcome Noi!”
“And it is my dream that “Noi” will be a Leader in 2030,” closing remark by Ms. Frederika Meijer, UNFPA Representative.
For more information please contact:
Ms Duangchanh Vongnasythan, Communications Focal Point
E-mail: vongnasythan@unfpa.org
Tel: +856 21 315547
