Why Youth Voices Matter!

Focusing on young people’s health and well-being, whilst prioritising their inclusion in decision making matters is essential. By ensuring young people are equipped with knowledge, skills and support, we are giving them the best opportunity to fulfil their potential, and furthermore foster a generation that can meaningfully contribute to society. The continent of Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa being under the age of 30.  Due to the sheer volume of young people in Africa, ensuring that they are equipped with knowledge on family planning and given streamlined access to contraceptive methods is critical, as their sexual behaviour will influence the growth of the entire region. Engaging with this massive portion of the population is key to the continent’s developmental success. In harnessing the contributions of this generation of change makers and innovators...all over the world we’d be setting the foundation for a future that advances human rights and global development. 

How does UNFPA assist with youth participation?
As part of their mandate to strategically assist with population problems in both developed and developing countries, UNFPA has identified the essentiality of meaningful youth engagement and participation. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for ‘no one to be left behind’, which creates a strong directive for young people -particularly marginalised populations- to be included in the creation of policies affecting them and their communities. In identifying the harm in excluding young people, UNFPA has committed to empowering youth and facilitating them to become agents of change. UNFPA advocates to meaningful stakeholders (governments, CSOs, private sector agencies etc) to invest in young people as a matter of priority in aiding development. Also, through pioneering initiatives like the ‘Safeguarding Young People Programme’, adolescents and young people are being empowered to protect themselves from STIs including HIV, early and unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, early marriage, gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices, while promoting gender-equitable norms.

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UNFPA ESAR, supports the African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYAN) in setting up country chapters and training young people to participate in regional and global forums to be a voice representing the needs and concerns of youth. UNFPA and partners facilitated a General Assembly here in Johannesburg, where representatives from chapters across Eastern and Southern Africa flew in to hold an election for their Executive Committee. Along with the electoral process, members participated in a rich programme of panels and discussions centred on key issues effecting African youth. Leading up to the GA, the youth team here at ESARO were working tirelessly to ensure that everything was put in place for a seamless event and for the safe arrival of the AfriYAN delegates. Many meetings were held prior to the three day conference to flesh out specificities of electoral guidelines ensuring a transparent and inclusive democratic election. I am constantly in awe of the dedication the ESARO Youth Team has shown towards facilitating opportunities for young people's voices to be heard. 

Before this GA, I had never seen a space for young people to participate to the extent in which took place. I was continuously impressed by the passion and commitment the members showed towards issues that have been effecting them and their peers. Beyond this, the expertise that was shown on matters of GBV, SRHR and human rights showed how well equipped youth are to meaningfully contribute to solving these problems. This experience further iterated how a collaborative effort between stakeholders and youth populations can provide fruitful results and create a strong foundation for ongoing engagement and progress towards mutual goals.