This year, a youth-led celebration of the International Youth Day (IYD) highlights on education and empowerment for young people and by youth themselves, to make education more inclusive and equitable. The event takes place on 14th August 2019 at Lao Youth Union under the theme “Transforming Education” and is supported by the United Nations Population Fund in Lao PDR.
In 1999, UN General Assembly designated 12 August as International Youth Day, to celebrate the role of young women and men as essential change makers as well as enhance opportunities to raise awareness on challenges and problems youth are facing. “When young people are equipped with the right information and preparation, they have the potential to lead the positive change in the world” a statement by UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem on IYD.
“Today’s generation, young people (under 25 years) take almost 60% of country’s population. There is a saying in Lao Young people are the backbone of the nation, therefore, investing in them especially in key areas like education, health, labour, protection and participation equal to investing in social, economy and development of the country.” Said By H.E Alounxay Sounalath, Secretary General of Lao Youth Union (LYU)
25 years ago (in 1994), Lao Government made a promise at the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) to meet the special needs of adolescents and youth, especially young women, for access to education, health, counselling and high-quality reproductive health services. Now that it has been 25 years after tremendous progress was made by Government, with support by many partners. This promise was kept for some, but not for all.
To reaffirm the commitment to helping young people realize their full potential in life, UNFPA unveils a new youth strategy, My Body, My Life, My World! It places their needs, aspirations and ideals at the core of our work to support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ICPD agenda by 2030.
"Ensuring adolescents especially young girls like Noi do not drop out of school and when they do efforts to reintegrate them into school or vocational training are strengthened. This will ensure Lao PDR has a skilled labour force that contributes to the economic growth and prosperity" Said by UNFPA’s Representative, Ms. Mariam A. Khan.
The event also revealed the winners of drawing contest under the same topic “transforming education”. Youth led the panel discussion on sexual reproductive health, education and employment to draw attention from policy makers and enhance investment possibilities. At the end of the event, joined by young people, international communities and government officials, they jointly sign on the banner to reaffirm the commitment to ICPD agenda.
UNFPA is the United Nations reproductive health and rights agency. It is the leading agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly maternal health, in over 150 countries, as well as working to end harmful practices such as child marriage, and supporting population data collection and analysis.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Kay amphone Singhalath
Telephone: 021 267 680
Email: Singhalath@unfpa.org website: lao.unfpa.org
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