M.A. Jabbar :
In 1985, the UN celebrated the first International Year of Youth. On its 10th anniversary, the General Assembly adopted the World Progamme of Action for Youth; setting a policy framework and guidelines for national action and international support to improve the condition of young people. 15 priority areas adopted by the General Assembly includes: education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, girls and young women, participation, globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, youth and conflict, international relations etc. The World Progamme of Action for Youth plays a prominent role in youth development. It focuses on measures to strengthen national capacities in the field of youth and to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities available to young people for full, effective and construction participation in the society.
Later, the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 54/120 on 17 December 1999 endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth (Lisbon 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. The day focuses on global youth issues and seeks attention and action related to the opportunities and challenges of the global youth. The theme of the International Youth Day this year is Youth and Mental Health under the slogan Mental Health Matters. Youth with mental health conditions can often experience stigma and discrimination, which in turn can lead to exclusion and or discourage people from seeking help for fear of being negatively labelled. Efforts are needed to overcome this stigma to ensure that young people with mental health conditions can lead full and healthy lives free from isolation and unnecessary shame, and they openly seek the services and support they need.
UN DESA, through the focal point on youth and the inter-agency network on youth development promotes a multi-dimensional approach to addressing the challenges faced by young people with mental health issues, including tackling stigma and promoting social inclusion to enable all young people to achieve their aspiration and goals. The 2014 observance of International Youth Day will raise awareness on this important topic as well as highlight the experiences of brave, young individuals who have chosen to speak out about their issues with the objectives of overcoming stigma and discrimination to ensure that young people with mental health conditions can lead full and health lives free from isolation and unnecessary shame, and openly seek the services and support they need.
UN data reveals that about 16 million girls under age 18 give birth each year. Another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions; the vast majorities 90 percent of the pregnant adolescents in the developing world are married. But far too many of these girls have little to do with informed choice. They also face consequences of discrimination, rights violations including child marriage, inadequate education, or sexual coercion. International Youth Day is an opportunity to seek attention and action of the world leaders, raise awareness of the governments and individuals for the welfare of global youth.
International Youth Day and Bangladesh perspective: Historically the youth of the country are proved as the driving force of the nation. As Bangladesh is a disaster prone country and vulnerable to climate change, youth volunteers’ roles are an utmost need to make the people self-reliance and to face the challenges of natural disasters and other crises. Realizing the fact, Bangladesh has given priority concerning to youth development in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed by the leaders of the UN member states in 2000 and to be achieved by 2015. Accordingly, it has achieved appreciable targets in expansion of primary and secondary education, reduction in many aspects of women’s empowerment and gender disparity, eradication of hunger and environmental sustainability, reduction of maternal, infant and child mortality including development of youth. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is playing pivotal role for the development of youth in Bangladesh. Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies (DU), UNV, UNDP, JICA, KOICA, and VSO are also working for the purpose. UNDP Bangladesh, one of the largest country offices of the global development network has been here since 31 July 1972. Drawing upon its global network, UNDP helps the people and Government of Bangladesh to develop their capacity to meet development challenges through initiatives that link advocacy, policy advice, and projects. Youth from the Fire Service and Civil Defence Urban Volunteers Network, Young Power in Social Action, Foundation for Disaster Forum, Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies (DU), UNFPA National Youth Forum for RH are also working for local communities linking international and national youth initiatives like disaster response, disability, and access to education, especially in sexual and reproductive health.
Expanding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among all sectors is an urgent need in order to fulfill the government vision of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021. The present government is earnestly working for the purpose. This will certainly help create skilled youth in Bangladesh and thus contribute significantly for the development of the country.
Drug abuse is a great public health threat and the youth are the prime victim of the same. We must work unitedly so that our youth refrain from drug abuse.
Bangladesh is a developing country thriving to achieve various socio-economic targets for the welfare of the people. Without a healthy young force, a healthy nation cannot be expected. As such government has given priority for the development of youth of the country. All-out efforts must be ensured to overcome the stigma to ensure that young people with mental health conditions of the country can lead fruitful lives free from isolation and unnecessary shame. All must work together to achieve the goal. The theme of the International Youth Day this year is timely and appropriate and has created an opportunity to understand the fact and work for upliftment of the condition of the younger of the people of Bangladesh. This, in turn, will contribute towards ultimate development of the country.
(M.A. Jabbar writes on health and environment issues and is executive secretary of ADHUNIK, national anti-tobacco organization of Bangladesh.)
