At Ukrainian National Information Agency (UKRINFORM) on "Youth+Future=Ukraine. Youth Policy Issues and Strategies"

 Together with its partners from the Ministry of youth and sports, Ministry of social policy, Ministry of education and science, Kremenchuk City Council and Ukrainian Youth Forum, UNFPA Ukraine held a press conference to observe World Population Day at Ukrainian National Information Agency UKRINFORM.

Each year since 1990, UNFPA observes World Population Day (11 July) to raise awareness of important population and development issues.

There are 1.8 billion young people aged 10-24 in the world, making one quarter of the world’s population. Adolescents and youth should be put in the center of the development agenda. Investing in young people today by promoting healthy habits and ensuring education and employment opportunities, access to health services, and social security coverage for all workers is the best investment to improve the lives of future generations. Yet, two out of three countries do not consult young people as a part of the process of preparing poverty reduction strategies or national development plans.

In keeping with UNFPA’s focus on adolescent well-being, the global theme of World Population Day 2014 was defined as “Investing in Young People”. In Ukraine, the theme has been defined as “Youth+Future=Ukraine”.

The complicated security condition in Eastern parts of Ukraine affects the daily lives of people, creates an insecure and unpredictable environment and increased hardship. For youth the situation poses additional threats due to the disruption of access to education and health services, as well as the potential breakdown of social and economic safety nets.

Amid the current crisis youth in Ukraine is being exposed to a number of challenges that could have a long-lasting effect on their future lives if not addressed in a timely manner.

UNFPA Ukraine stands ready to partner with Ukrainian Government and civil society in order to assist the joint projects implementation and to enhance the effectiveness of state youth policy at both the national and local levels. We already have successful experience of such projects, for instance, with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.

In late June, UNFPA Ukraine supported the Ministry’s efforts in transferring, accommodation and recreation of 98 Lugansk region adolescents and children from areas affected by the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Lviv region “Tsarynka” recreation center.

Together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, UNFPA Ukraine will be organizing All-Ukrainian Forum on «Transformation of Youth Policy: vision till 2020» in Kyiv on 29 July 2014. The goal of the Forum is to present, discuss and agree the Concept of State Programme for Youth till 2020.