THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011 Adolescence An Age of Opportunity unite for children unicef
THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 Adolescence An Age of Opportunity THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 ADOLESCENCE: AN AGE OF OPPORTUNITY United Nations Children’s Fund 3 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA Email: pubdoc@unicef.org Website: www.unicef.org © United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) February 2011 Scan this QR code or go to the UNICEF publications website www.unicef.org/publications US $25.00 ISBN: 978-92-806-4555-2 Sales no.: E.11.XX.1
Acknowledgements This report was produced with the invaluable guidance and contributions of many individuals,both inside and outside of UNICEF.Important contributions for country panels were received from the following UNICEF field offices: Cote d'Ivoire,Ethiopia,Haiti,India,Jordan,Mexico,Philippines,Ukraine and the US Fund for UNICEF.Input was also received from UNICEF regional offices and the World Health Organization's Adolescent Health and Development Team.Special thanks also to UNICEF's Adolescent Development and Participation Unit for their contributions, guidance and support.And thanks to adolescents from around the world who contributed quotations and other submissions for the print report and the website. The State of the World's Children 2011 invited adult and adolescent contributors from a variety of stakeholder groups to give their perspectives on the distinct challenges adolescents face today in protection,education,health and participation.Our gratitude is extended to the contributors presented in this report:His Excellency Mr.Anote Tong, President of the Republic of Kiribati;Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium;Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned;Emmanuel Adebayor;Saeda Almatari;Regynnah Awino;Meenakshi Dunga;Lara Dutta;Maria Eitel;Brenda Garcia;Urs Gasser;Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda;Colin Maclay;Cian McLeod;Paolo Najera;John Palfrey; Aown Shahzad;and Maria Sharapova.These essays represent a selection of the full series of Perspectives available at . Special thanks also to Ayman Abulaban;Gloria Adutwum;Rita Azar;Gerrit Beger;Tina Bille;Soha Bsat Boustani; Marissa Buckanoff;Abubakar Dungus;Abdel Rahman Ghandour;Omar Gharzeddine;Shazia Hassan;Carmen Higa; Donna Hoerder;Aristide Horugavye;Oksana Leshchenko;Isabelle Marneffe;Francesca Montini;Jussi Ojutkangas; and Arturo Romboli for their assistance with the Perspectives essay series and Technology panels.Special thanks also to Meena Cabral de Mello of WHO's Adolescent Health and Development Team for her assistance with the panel on adolescent mental health. EDITORIAL AND RESEARCH STATISTICAL TABLES David Anthony,Editor;Chris Brazier,Principal Writer; Tessa Wardlaw,Associate Director,Statistics and Maritza Ascencios;Marilia Di Noia;Hirut Gebre- Monitoring Section,Division of Policy and Practice; Egziabher;Anna Grojec;Carol Holmes;Tina Johnson; Priscilla Akwara;David Brown;Danielle Burke; Robert Lehrman;Celine Little;Charlotte Maitre; Xiaodong Cai;Claudia Cappa;Liliana Carvajal; Meedan Mekonnen;Kristin Moehlmann;Baishalee Archana Dwivedi;Anne Genereaux;Rouslan Karimov; Nayak;Arati Rao;Anne Santiago;Shobana Shankar; Rolf Luyendijk;Nyein Nyein Lwin;Colleen Murray; Julia Szczuka;Jordan Tamagni;Judith Yemane Holly Newby;Elizabeth Hom-Phathanothai; Khin Wityee Oo;Danzhen You PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION Jaclyn Tierney,Production Officer;Edward Ying,Jr.; PROGRAMME,AND POLICY AND Germain Ake;Fanuel Endalew;Eki Kairupan;Farid COMMUNICATION GUIDANCE Rashid:Elias Salem UNICEF Programme Division,Division of Policy and Practice,Division of Communication,and Innocenti TRANSLATION Research Centre,with particular thanks to Saad Houry, French edition:Marc Chalamet Deputy Executive Director;Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Spanish edition:Carlos Perellon Deputy Executive Director;Nicholas Alipui,Director, Programme Division;Richard Morgan,Director,Division MEDIA AND OUTREACH of Policy and Practice;Khaled Mansour,Director, Christopher de Bono;Kathryn Donovan;Erica Falkenstein; Division of Communication;Maniza Zaman,Deputy Janine Kandel;Celine Little;Lorna O'Hanlon Director,Programme Division;Dan Rohrmann,Deputy Director,Programme Division;Susan Bissell,Associate INTERNET BROADCAST AND IMAGE SECTION Director,Programme Division;Rina Gill,Associate Stephen Cassidy;Matthew Cortellesi;Keith Musselman; Director,Division of Policy and Practice;Wivina Ellen Tolmie;Tanya Turkovich Belmonte,Deputy Director,Division of Communication; Catherine Langevin-Falcon;Naseem Awl;Paula DESIGN AND PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION Claycomb;Beatrice Duncan;Vidar Ekehaug;Maria Cristina Gallegos;Victor Karunan;and Mima Perisic. Prographics,Inc. PRINTING Hatteras Press i THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
ii THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 This report was produced with the invaluable guidance and contributions of many individuals, both inside and outside of UNICEF. Important contributions for country panels were received from the following UNICEF field offices: Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Jordan, Mexico, Philippines, Ukraine and the US Fund for UNICEF. Input was also received from UNICEF regional offices and the World Health Organization’s Adolescent Health and Development Team. Special thanks also to UNICEF’s Adolescent Development and Participation Unit for their contributions, guidance and support. And thanks to adolescents from around the world who contributed quotations and other submissions for the print report and the website. The State of the World’s Children 2011 invited adult and adolescent contributors from a variety of stakeholder groups to give their perspectives on the distinct challenges adolescents face today in protection, education, health and participation. Our gratitude is extended to the contributors presented in this report: His Excellency Mr. Anote Tong, President of the Republic of Kiribati; Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium; Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned; Emmanuel Adebayor; Saeda Almatari; Regynnah Awino; Meenakshi Dunga; Lara Dutta; Maria Eitel; Brenda Garcia; Urs Gasser; Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda; Colin Maclay; Cian McLeod; Paolo Najera; John Palfrey; Aown Shahzad; and Maria Sharapova. These essays represent a selection of the full series of Perspectives available at . Special thanks also to Ayman Abulaban; Gloria Adutwum; Rita Azar; Gerrit Beger; Tina Bille; Soha Bsat Boustani; Marissa Buckanoff; Abubakar Dungus; Abdel Rahman Ghandour; Omar Gharzeddine; Shazia Hassan; Carmen Higa; Donna Hoerder; Aristide Horugavye; Oksana Leshchenko; Isabelle Marneffe; Francesca Montini; Jussi Ojutkangas; and Arturo Romboli for their assistance with the Perspectives essay series and Technology panels. Special thanks also to Meena Cabral de Mello of WHO’s Adolescent Health and Development Team for her assistance with the panel on adolescent mental health. EDITORIAL AND RESEARCH David Anthony, Editor; Chris Brazier, Principal Writer; Maritza Ascencios; Marilia Di Noia; Hirut GebreEgziabher; Anna Grojec; Carol Holmes; Tina Johnson; Robert Lehrman; Céline Little; Charlotte Maitre; Meedan Mekonnen; Kristin Moehlmann; Baishalee Nayak; Arati Rao; Anne Santiago; Shobana Shankar; Julia Szczuka; Jordan Tamagni; Judith Yemane PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION Jaclyn Tierney, Production Officer; Edward Ying, Jr.; Germain Ake; Fanuel Endalew; Eki Kairupan; Farid Rashid; Elias Salem TRANSLATION French edition: Marc Chalamet Spanish edition: Carlos Perellón MEDIA AND OUTREACH Christopher de Bono; Kathryn Donovan; Erica Falkenstein; Janine Kandel; Céline Little; Lorna O’Hanlon INTERNET BROADCAST AND IMAGE SECTION Stephen Cassidy; Matthew Cortellesi; Keith Musselman; Ellen Tolmie; Tanya Turkovich DESIGN AND PRE-PRESS PRODUCTION Prographics, Inc. STATISTICAL TABLES Tessa Wardlaw, Associate Director, Statistics and Monitoring Section, Division of Policy and Practice; Priscilla Akwara; David Brown; Danielle Burke; Xiaodong Cai; Claudia Cappa; Liliana Carvajal; Archana Dwivedi; Anne Genereaux; Rouslan Karimov; Rolf Luyendijk; Nyein Nyein Lwin; Colleen Murray; Holly Newby; Elizabeth Hom-Phathanothai; Khin Wityee Oo; Danzhen You PROGRAMME, AND POLICY AND COMMUNICATION GUIDANCE UNICEF Programme Division, Division of Policy and Practice, Division of Communication, and Innocenti Research Centre, with particular thanks to Saad Houry, Deputy Executive Director; Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Deputy Executive Director; Nicholas Alipui, Director, Programme Division; Richard Morgan, Director, Division of Policy and Practice; Khaled Mansour, Director, Division of Communication; Maniza Zaman, Deputy Director, Programme Division; Dan Rohrmann, Deputy Director, Programme Division; Susan Bissell, Associate Director, Programme Division; Rina Gill, Associate Director, Division of Policy and Practice; Wivina Belmonte, Deputy Director, Division of Communication; Catherine Langevin-Falcon; Naseem Awl; Paula Claycomb; Beatrice Duncan; Vidar Ekehaug; Maria Cristina Gallegos; Victor Karunan; and Mima Perisic. PRINTING Hatteras Press Acknowledgements
Foreword Last year,a young woman electrified a United Nations cause of death for teenage girls;the pressures that keep consultation on climate change in Bonn,simply by asking 70 million adolescents out of school;exploitation,violent the delegates,“How old will you be in2050?” conflict and the worst kind of abuse at the hands of adults. The audience applauded.The next day,hundreds of It also examines the dangers posed by emerging trends delegates wore T-shirts emblazoned with that question- like climate change,whose intensifying effects in many including the Chair,who admitted that in 2050 he would developing countries already undermine so many adoles- be 110,and not likely to see the results of our failure to cents'well-being,and by labour trends,which reveal a act.The young woman's message was clear:The kind of profound lack of employment opportunities for young world she will live in someday relies both on those who people,especially those in poor countries. inherit it and on those who bequeath it to them. Adolescence is not only a time of vulnerability,it is also an The State of the World's Children 2011 echoes and builds on age of opportunity.This is especially true when it comes to this fundamental insight.Today,1.2 billion adolescents stand adolescent girls.We know that the more education a girl at the challenging crossroads between childhood and the adult receives,the more likely she is to postpone marriage and world.Nine out of ten of these young people live in the de- motherhood-and the more likely it is that her children veloping world and face especially profound challenges,from will be healthier and better educated.By giving all young obtaining an education to simply staying alive-challenges people the tools they need to improve their own lives,and that are even more magnified for girls and young women. by engaging them in efforts to improve their communities, we are investing in the strength of their societies. In the global effort to save children's lives,we hear too little about adolescence.Given the magnitude of the threats to Through a wealth of concrete examples,The State of children under the age of five,it makes sense to focus invest- the World's Children 2011 makes clear that sustainable ment there-and that attention has produced stunning suc- progress is possible.It also draws on recent research to cess.In the last 20 years,the number of children under five show that we can achieve that progress more quickly and dying every day from preventable causes has been cut by one cost-effectively by focusing first on the poorest children third,from 34.,000 in 1990 to around 22.000 in 2009. in the hardest-to-reach places.Such a focus on equity will help all children,including adolescents. Yet consider this:In Brazil,decreases in infant mortality be- tween 1998 and 2008 added up to over 26,000 children's How can we delay?Right now,in Africa,a teenager weighs lives saved-but in that same decade,81,000 Brazilian the sacrifices she must make to stay in the classroom.An- adolescents,15-19 years old,were murdered.Surely,we do other desperately tries to avoid the armed groups that may not want to save children in their first decade of life only to force him to join.In South Asia,a pregnant young woman lose them in the second. waits,terrified,for the day when she will give birth alone. This report catalogues,in heart-wrenching detail,the array The young woman who asked the question in Bonn,along of dangers adolescents face:the injuries that kill 400,000 of with millions of others,waits not only for an answer,but them each year;early pregnancy and childbirth,a primary for greater action.By all of us. Anthony lake Executive Director,UNICEF FOREWORD iii
FOREWORD iii Foreword Last year, a young woman electrified a United Nations consultation on climate change in Bonn, simply by asking the delegates, “How old will you be in 2050?” The audience applauded. The next day, hundreds of delegates wore T-shirts emblazoned with that question – including the Chair, who admitted that in 2050 he would be 110, and not likely to see the results of our failure to act. The young woman’s message was clear: The kind of world she will live in someday relies both on those who inherit it and on those who bequeath it to them. The State of the World’s Children 2011 echoes and builds on this fundamental insight. Today, 1.2 billion adolescents stand at the challenging crossroads between childhood and the adult world. Nine out of ten of these young people live in the developing world and face especially profound challenges, from obtaining an education to simply staying alive – challenges that are even more magnified for girls and young women. In the global effort to save children’s lives, we hear too little about adolescence. Given the magnitude of the threats to children under the age of five, it makes sense to focus investment there – and that attention has produced stunning success. In the last 20 years, the number of children under five dying every day from preventable causes has been cut by one third, from 34,000 in 1990 to around 22,000 in 2009. Yet consider this: In Brazil, decreases in infant mortality between 1998 and 2008 added up to over 26,000 children’s lives saved – but in that same decade, 81,000 Brazilian adolescents, 15–19 years old, were murdered. Surely, we do not want to save children in their first decade of life only to lose them in the second. This report catalogues, in heart-wrenching detail, the array of dangers adolescents face: the injuries that kill 400,000 of them each year; early pregnancy and childbirth, a primary cause of death for teenage girls; the pressures that keep 70 million adolescents out of school; exploitation, violent conflict and the worst kind of abuse at the hands of adults. It also examines the dangers posed by emerging trends like climate change, whose intensifying effects in many developing countries already undermine so many adolescents’ well-being, and by labour trends, which reveal a profound lack of employment opportunities for young people, especially those in poor countries. Adolescence is not only a time of vulnerability, it is also an age of opportunity. This is especially true when it comes to adolescent girls. We know that the more education a girl receives, the more likely she is to postpone marriage and motherhood – and the more likely it is that her children will be healthier and better educated. By giving all young people the tools they need to improve their own lives, and by engaging them in efforts to improve their communities, we are investing in the strength of their societies. Through a wealth of concrete examples, The State of the World’s Children 2011 makes clear that sustainable progress is possible. It also draws on recent research to show that we can achieve that progress more quickly and cost-effectively by focusing first on the poorest children in the hardest-to-reach places. Such a focus on equity will help all children, including adolescents. How can we delay? Right now, in Africa, a teenager weighs the sacrifices she must make to stay in the classroom. Another desperately tries to avoid the armed groups that may force him to join. In South Asia, a pregnant young woman waits, terrified, for the day when she will give birth alone. The young woman who asked the question in Bonn, along with millions of others, waits not only for an answer, but for greater action. By all of us. © UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0697/Markisz Anthony Lake Executive Director, UNICEF
CONTENTS Acknowledgements.......... ...ii Panels COUNTRY Foreword Anthony Lake,Executive Director,UNICEF......... .....ii Haiti:Building back better together with young people........5 Jordan:Ensuring productive work for youth..... .13 The Emerging Generation..vi India:Risks and opportunities for the world's largest national cohort of adolescents..23 The complexities of defining adolescence.............................8 Ethiopia:Gender,poverty and the challenge for adolescents......35 Adolescents and adolescence in the international arena................12 Mexico:Protecting unaccompanied migrant adolescents..............39 Ukraine:Establishing a protective environment for vulnerable children.44 2 Realizing the Rights of Adolescents.........16 The Philippines:Strengthening the participation rights of adolescents....... .48 Health in adolescence.....19 Survival and general health risks.19 United States:The Campus Initiative-Advocating for children's rights at colleges and universities..... .73 Nutritional status............. 21 Sexual and reproductive health matters... Cote d'lvoire:Violent conflict and the vulnerability 0 f adolescents.................77 HIV and AIDS… .24 Adolescent-friendly health services...................26 TECHNOLOGY Education in adolescence..... .26 Gender and protection in adolescence............. 31 Digital natives and the three divides to bridge, by John Palfrey,Urs Gasser,Colin Maclay and Gerrit Beger........14 Violence and abuse.3 Adolescent marriage.....33 Young people,mobile phones and the rights of adolescents, by Graham Brown ........... .36 Female genital mutilation/cutting.33 Child labour. 33 Digital safety for young people:Gathering information,creating new models and understanding Initiatives on gender and protection........... .34 existing efforts,by John Palfrey,Urs Gasser, Colin Maclay and Gerrit Beger.... ...50 3 Global Challenges for Adolescents...........40 Map Kibera and Regynnah's empowerment, by Regynnah Awino and the Map Kibera........70 Climate change and the environment..... .42 Poverty,unemployment and globalization...........................45 FOCUS ON Juvenile crime and violence....... .52 Early and late adolescence6 Conflict and emergency settings ......... .57 Demographic trends for adolescents:Ten key facts............20 Adolescent mental health:An urgent challenge Investing in Adolescents60 for investigation and investment.......27 Inequality in childhood and adolescence in rich countries- Improve data collection and analysis.63 Innocenti Report Card 9:The children left behind...30 Invest in education and Migration and children:A cause for urgent attention.....................56 Institutionalize mechanisms for youth participation.68 Preparing adolescents for adulthood and citizenship.....................66 A supportive environment............. .71 Addressing poverty and Working together for adolescent girls:The United Nations Adolescent Girls Task Force................. 75 Working together for adolescents.......... ...75 iv THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
iv THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 Contents Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity Acknowledgements..............................................................................ii Foreword Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF.......................................iii 1 The Emerging Generation....................................vi The complexities of defining adolescence.........................................8 Adolescents and adolescence in the international arena...............12 2 Realizing the Rights of Adolescents ...........16 Health in adolescence ....................................................................... 19 Survival and general health risks..................................................... 19 Nutritional status ............................................................................... 21 Sexual and reproductive health matters......................................... 22 HIV and AIDS ..................................................................................... 24 Adolescent-friendly health services................................................. 26 Education in adolescence ................................................................. 26 Gender and protection in adolescence............................................ 31 Violence and abuse ........................................................................... 31 Adolescent marriage ......................................................................... 33 Female genital mutilation/cutting .................................................... 33 Child labour........................................................................................ 33 Initiatives on gender and protection................................................ 34 3 Global Challenges for Adolescents............. 40 Climate change and the environment ............................................. 42 Poverty, unemployment and globalization ..................................... 45 Juvenile crime and violence............................................................. 52 Conflict and emergency settings ..................................................... 57 4 Investing in Adolescents ..................................... 60 Improve data collection and analysis.............................................. 63 Invest in education and training ...................................................... 64 Institutionalize mechanisms for youth participation...................... 68 A supportive environment................................................................ 71 Addressing poverty and inequity..................................................... 72 Working together for adolescents.................................................... 75 Panels Country Haiti: Building back better together with young people.................. 5 Jordan: Ensuring productive work for youth.................................. 13 India: Risks and opportunities for the world’s largest national cohort of adolescents ............................................ 23 Ethiopia: Gender, poverty and the challenge for adolescents ...... 35 Mexico: Protecting unaccompanied migrant adolescents............. 39 Ukraine: Establishing a protective environment for vulnerable children...................................................................... 44 The Philippines: Strengthening the participation rights of adolescents......................................................................... 48 United States: The Campus Initiative – Advocating for children’s rights at colleges and universities............................ 73 Côte d’Ivoire: Violent conflict and the vulnerability of adolescents.................................................................................... 77 Technology Digital natives and the three divides to bridge, by John Palfrey, Urs Gasser, Colin Maclay and Gerrit Beger........ 14 Young people, mobile phones and the rights of adolescents, by Graham Brown ............................................................................. 36 Digital safety for young people: Gathering information, creating new models and understanding existing efforts, by John Palfrey, Urs Gasser, Colin Maclay and Gerrit Beger......................................................... 50 Map Kibera and Regynnah’s empowerment, by Regynnah Awino and the Map Kibera ....................................... 70 Focus ON Early and late adolescence ................................................................. 6 Demographic trends for adolescents: Ten key facts ...................... 20 Adolescent mental health: An urgent challenge for investigation and investment..................................................... 27 Inequality in childhood and adolescence in rich countries – Innocenti Report Card 9: The children left behind ......................... 30 Migration and children: A cause for urgent attention.................... 56 Preparing adolescents for adulthood and citizenship.................... 66 Working together for adolescent girls: The United Nations Adolescent Girls Task Force ............................................................. 75
THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011 Adolescence:An Age of Opportunity Essays 2.3 Anaemia is a significant risk for adolescent girls (15-19) in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia...21 PERSPECTIVES Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium, 2.4 Underweight is a major risk for adolescent girls(15-19) Adult responsibility:Listen to adolescents'voices9 in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia...21 Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda,Facing the challenge: 2.5 Young males in late adolescence (15-19)are more Reproductive health for HIV-positive adolescents....8 likely to engage in higher risk sex than females of the same age group24 Maria Sharapova,Chernobyl 25 years later: Remembering adolescents in disaster38 2.6 Young women in late adolescence(15-19)are more likely to seek an HIV test and receive their results than young men President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, of the same age The effects of climate change in Kiribati: A tangible threat to 2.7 Marriage by age of first union in selected Emmanuel Adebayor,Advocacy through sports: countries with available disaggregated data.......34 Stopping the spread of HIV among young people..... .54 3.1 Word cloud illustrating key international youth Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, forums on climate change...45 Releasing the potential of adolescents:Education reform in the Middle East and North Africa region......................58 3.2 Global trends in youth unemployment................ .46 Lara Dutta,Doing our part:Mass media's responsibility References… .78 Maria Eitel,Adolescent girls:The best investment 74 Statistical Tables.... you can make.… .81 Under-five mortality rankings..8 ADOLESCENT VOICES Table 1.Basic indicators ....... .88 Paolo Najera,17,Costa Rica,Keeping the flame alive: Table 2.Nutrition9. Indigenous adolescents'right to education and health services...11 Table 3.Health ..... .96 Meenakshi Dunga,16,India,Act responsibly: Table 4.HIV/AIDS...... Nurse our planet back to health...... .32 .100 Table5.Education… …104 Brenda Garcia,17,Mexico,Reclaim Tijuana: Table 6.Demographic indicators.... .108 Put an end to drug-related violence.53 Table 7.Economic indicators.... 112 Cian McLeod,17,Ireland,Striving for equity: Table 8.Women........ .116 A look at marginalized adolescents in Zambia..57 Table 9.Child protection.120 Saeda Almatari,16,Jordan/United States, Table 10.The rate of Unrealistic media images:A danger to adolescent girls...............65 Table 11.Adolescents.130 Syed Aown Shahzad,16,Pakistan,From victims to activists: Table 12.Equity...... .134 Children and the effects of climate change in Pakistan.........6 Figures 2.1 Adolescent population (10-19 years)by region,2009.............20 2.2 Trends in the adolescent population,1950-2050.................20 CONTENTS
CONTENTS v THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity Essays PerspectiveS Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Adult responsibility: Listen to adolescents’ voices .......................... 9 Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Facing the challenge: Reproductive health for HIV-positive adolescents.......................... 28 Maria Sharapova, Chernobyl 25 years later: Remembering adolescents in disaster ............................................ 38 President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, The effects of climate change in Kiribati: A tangible threat to adolescents ...................................................... 47 Emmanuel Adebayor, Advocacy through sports: Stopping the spread of HIV among young people......................... 54 Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, Releasing the potential of adolescents: Education reform in the Middle East and North Africa region ....................... 58 Lara Dutta, Doing our part: Mass media’s responsibility to adolescents.................................................................................... 69 Maria Eitel, Adolescent girls: The best investment you can make..................................................................................... 74 Adolescent voices Paolo Najera, 17, Costa Rica, Keeping the flame alive: Indigenous adolescents’ right to education and health services... 11 Meenakshi Dunga, 16, India, Act responsibly: Nurse our planet back to health....................................................... 32 Brenda Garcia, 17, Mexico, Reclaim Tijuana: Put an end to drug-related violence ................................................ 53 Cian McLeod, 17, Ireland, Striving for equity: A look at marginalized adolescents in Zambia............................... 57 Saeda Almatari, 16, Jordan/United States, Unrealistic media images: A danger to adolescent girls............... 65 Syed Aown Shahzad, 16, Pakistan, From victims to activists: Children and the effects of climate change in Pakistan................. 76 Figures 2.1 Adolescent population (10–19 years) by region, 2009............. 20 2.2 Trends in the adolescent population, 1950–2050 ..................... 20 2.3 Anaemia is a significant risk for adolescent girls (15–19) in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia...................................... 21 2.4 Underweight is a major risk for adolescent girls (15–19) in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia...................................... 21 2.5 Young males in late adolescence (15–19) are more likely to engage in higher risk sex than females of the same age group .......................................................................... 24 2.6 Young women in late adolescence (15–19) are more likely to seek an HIV test and receive their results than young men of the same age group ............................................................... 25 2.7 Marriage by age of first union in selected countries with available disaggregated data............................ 34 3.1 Word cloud illustrating key international youth forums on climate change.......................................................... 45 3.2 Global trends in youth unemployment..................................... 46 References.................................................................................. 78 Statistical Tables............................................................... 81 Under-five mortality rankings........................................................... 87 Table 1. Basic indicators ................................................................... 88 Table 2. Nutrition ............................................................................... 92 Table 3. Health ................................................................................... 96 Table 4. HIV/AIDS............................................................................. 100 Table 5. Education ........................................................................... 104 Table 6. Demographic indicators ................................................... 108 Table 7. Economic indicators.......................................................... 112 Table 8. Women............................................................................... 116 Table 9. Child protection................................................................. 120 Table 10. The rate of progress........................................................ 126 Table 11. Adolescents...................................................................... 130 Table 12. Equity................................................................................ 134
A keener focus on the development and human rights of adolescents would both enhance and accelerate the fight against poverty,inequality and gender discrimination.Hawa, 12 (at left),recently re-enrolled in school following the intervention of the National Network of Mothers' Associations for Girls,which advocates for girls'education,Cameroon. CHAPTER 1 The Emerging Generation THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
The Emerging Generation A keener focus on the development and human rights of adolescents would both enhance and accelerate the fight against poverty, inequality and gender discrimination. Hawa, 12 (at left), recently re-enrolled in school following the intervention of the National Network of Mothers’ Associations for Girls, which advocates for girls’ education, Cameroon. CHAPTER 1 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011
GLobal challenges for adolescents 1 The Emerging Generation
CHALLENGES AND Adolescence is an age of opportunity for children,and a pivotal time for us to build on their development in the first decade of life,to help them navigate risks and vulnerabilities,and to set them on the path to fulfilling their potential. The world is home to 1.2 billion individuals aged 10-19 In this context,the conventional wisdom might dictate that years.These adolescents have lived most or all of their most resources be devoted to children and young people in lives under the Millennium Declaration,the unprecedented the first decade of their lives.After all,that is when they global compact that since 2000 has sought a better world are most vulnerable to death,disease and undernutrition; for all. when the effects of unsafe water and poor sanitation pose the greatest threat to their lives;and when the absence of Many of their number have benefited from the gains in education,protection and care can have the most pernicious child survival,education,access to safe water,and other lifetime implications. areas of development that stand as concrete successes of the drive to meet the Millennium Development Goals,the In contrast,adolescents are generally stronger and human development targets at the core of the Declaration. healthier than younger children;most have already ben- But now they have arrived at a pivot- efited from basic education;and many al moment in their lives-just as the world as a whole is facing a critical "I want to participate in are among the hardest and,potentially, most costly to reach with essential moment in this new millennium. developing my country services and protection.It hardly seems and promoting human judicious,in these fiscally straitened In just three years,confidence in times,to focus greater attention on the world economy has plummeted. rights for people all them. Unemployment has risen sharply,and real household incomes have fallen or over the world." Such reasoning,though seemingly stagnated.At the time of writing,in Amira,17.Egypt sound in theory,is flawed for several late 2010,the global economic out- reasons,all stemming from one critical look remains highly uncertain,and notion:Lasting change in the lives of the possibility of a prolonged economic malaise,with nega- children and young people,a critical underlying motiva- tive implications for social and economic progress in many tion of the Millennium Declaration,can only be achieved countries,developing and industrialized alike,still looms. and sustained by complementing investment in the first decade of life with greater attention and resources This economic turmoil and uncertainty have raised the applied to the second. spectre of fiscal austerity,particularly in some industrial- ized economies,resulting in a more stringent approach to The imperative of investing in adolescence social spending and overseas development assistance.In The arguments for investing in adolescence are fivefold. developing countries,too,public finances have tightened, The first is that it is right in principle under existing human and social spending,including investments in child-related rights treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the areas,has come under greater scrutiny. Child,which applies to around 80 per cent of adolescents, THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
2 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 In this context, the conventional wisdom might dictate that most resources be devoted to children and young people in the first decade of their lives. After all, that is when they are most vulnerable to death, disease and undernutrition; when the effects of unsafe water and poor sanitation pose the greatest threat to their lives; and when the absence of education, protection and care can have the most pernicious lifetime implications. In contrast, adolescents are generally stronger and healthier than younger children; most have already benefited from basic education; and many are among the hardest and, potentially, most costly to reach with essential services and protection. It hardly seems judicious, in these fiscally straitened times, to focus greater attention on them. Such reasoning, though seemingly sound in theory, is flawed for several reasons, all stemming from one critical notion: Lasting change in the lives of children and young people, a critical underlying motivation of the Millennium Declaration, can only be achieved and sustained by complementing investment in the first decade of life with greater attention and resources applied to the second. The imperative of investing in adolescence The arguments for investing in adolescence are fivefold. The first is that it is right in principle under existing human rights treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which applies to around 80 per cent of adolescents, The world is home to 1.2 billion individuals aged 10–19 years.1 These adolescents have lived most or all of their lives under the Millennium Declaration, the unprecedented global compact that since 2000 has sought a better world for all. Many of their number have benefited from the gains in child survival, education, access to safe water, and other areas of development that stand as concrete successes of the drive to meet the Millennium Development Goals, the human development targets at the core of the Declaration. But now they have arrived at a pivotal moment in their lives – just as the world as a whole is facing a critical moment in this new millennium. In just three years, confidence in the world economy has plummeted. Unemployment has risen sharply, and real household incomes have fallen or stagnated. At the time of writing, in late 2010, the global economic outlook remains highly uncertain, and the possibility of a prolonged economic malaise, with negative implications for social and economic progress in many countries, developing and industrialized alike, still looms. This economic turmoil and uncertainty have raised the spectre of fiscal austerity, particularly in some industrialized economies, resulting in a more stringent approach to social spending and overseas development assistance. In developing countries, too, public finances have tightened, and social spending, including investments in child-related areas, has come under greater scrutiny. “I want to participate in developing my country and promoting human rights for people all over the world.” Amira, 17, Egypt Adolescence is an age of opportunity for children, and a pivotal time for us to build on their development in the first decade of life, to help them navigate risks and vulnerabilities, and to set them on the path to fulfilling their potential. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITIES and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of most marginalized households and communities-fail to Discrimination against Women,which applies to all adoles-complete their studies or else finish with insufficient skills, cent females. especially in those high-level competencies increasingly required by the modern globalized economy. Second,investing in adolescence is the most effective way to consolidate the historic global gains achieved in This skills deficit is contributing to bleak youth employ- early and middle childhood since 1990.The 33 per cent ment trends.The global economic crisis has produced a reduction in the global under-five mortality rate,the near- elimination of gender gaps in primary school enrolment in several developing regions and the considerable gains achieved in improving access to primary schooling,safe water and critical medicines such as routine immuniza- tions and antiretroviral drugs -all are testament to the tremendous recent progress achieved for children in early and middle childhood.2 But the paucity of attention and resources devoted to ado- lescents is threatening to limit the impact of these efforts in the second decade of an individual's life.Evidence from around the world shows just how precarious that decade can be:81,000 Brazilian adolescents,15-19 years old,were murdered between 1998 and 2008.3 Global net attendance for secondary school is roughly one third lower than for primary school.+Worldwide,one third of all new HIV cases involve young people aged 15-24.5 And in the developing world,excluding China,1 in every 3 girls gets married before the age of 18.5 When confronted with these facts,it is hard to avoid the question:Are our efforts in support of children's rights and well-being limited by a lack of support for adolescents? Third,investing in adolescents can accelerate the fight against poverty,inequity and gender discrimination. Adolescence is the pivotal decade when poverty and ineq- uity often pass to the next generation as poor adolescent girls give birth to impoverished children.This is particu- A stronger focus on the second decade of life is imperative to meeting international larly true among adolescents with low levels of education. commitments to children and creating a more peaceful.tolerant and equitable world. Almost half the world's adolescents of the appropriate age Young students in a secondary school that promotes gender equality,diversity,a culture of peace and respect for human rights;improves social and study skills and self-esteem do not attend secondary school.?And when they do attend, among students;and encourages the participation of parents and other community many of them-particularly those from the poorest and members,Colombia. THE EMERGING GENERATION 3
the emerging generation 3 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which applies to all adolescent females. Second, investing in adolescence is the most effective way to consolidate the historic global gains achieved in early and middle childhood since 1990. The 33 per cent reduction in the global under-five mortality rate, the nearelimination of gender gaps in primary school enrolment in several developing regions and the considerable gains achieved in improving access to primary schooling, safe water and critical medicines such as routine immunizations and antiretroviral drugs – all are testament to the tremendous recent progress achieved for children in early and middle childhood.2 But the paucity of attention and resources devoted to adolescents is threatening to limit the impact of these efforts in the second decade of an individual’s life. Evidence from around the world shows just how precarious that decade can be: 81,000 Brazilian adolescents, 15–19 years old, were murdered between 1998 and 2008.3 Global net attendance for secondary school is roughly one third lower than for primary school.4 Worldwide, one third of all new HIV cases involve young people aged 15–24.5 And in the developing world, excluding China, 1 in every 3 girls gets married before the age of 18.6 When confronted with these facts, it is hard to avoid the question: Are our efforts in support of children’s rights and well-being limited by a lack of support for adolescents? Third, investing in adolescents can accelerate the fight against poverty, inequity and gender discrimination. Adolescence is the pivotal decade when poverty and inequity often pass to the next generation as poor adolescent girls give birth to impoverished children. This is particularly true among adolescents with low levels of education. Almost half the world’s adolescents of the appropriate age do not attend secondary school.7 And when they do attend, many of them – particularly those from the poorest and most marginalized households and communities – fail to complete their studies or else finish with insufficient skills, especially in those high-level competencies increasingly required by the modern globalized economy. This skills deficit is contributing to bleak youth employment trends. The global economic crisis has produced a A stronger focus on the second decade of life is imperative to meeting international commitments to children and creating a more peaceful, tolerant and equitable world. Young students in a secondary school that promotes gender equality, diversity, a culture of peace and respect for human rights; improves social and study skills and self-esteem among students; and encourages the participation of parents and other community members, Colombia. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
large cohort of unemployed youth,which in 2009 stood The poorest adolescent girls are also those most likely at around 81 million worldwide.s For those who are to be married early,with rates of child marriage roughly employed,decent work is scarce:In 2010,young people three times higher than among their peers from the rich- aged 15-24 formed around one quarter of the world's est quintile of households.Girls who marry early are also working poor.?In a recent survey of international com- most at risk of being caught up in the negative cycle of panies operating in developing countries,more than 20 premature childbearing,high rates of maternal mortality per cent considered the inadequate education of workers to and morbidity and high levels of child undernutrition. be a significant obstacle to higher levels of corporate invest- And there is firm evidence to suggest that undernutrition ment and faster economic growth.10 is among the foremost factors that undermine early child- hood development.12 The intergenerational transmission of poverty is most appar- ent among adolescent girls.Educational disadvantage and Adopting a life-cycle approach to child development,with gender discrimination are potent factors that force them into greater attention given to the care,empowerment and pro- lives of exclusion and penury,child marriage and domestic tection of adolescents,girls in particular,is the soundest violence.Around one third of girls in the developing world, way to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. excluding China,are married before age 18;in a few coun- Time and again,evidence shows that educated girls are less tries,almost 30 per cent of girls under 15 are also married. likely to marry early,less likely to get pregnant as teenag- ers,more likely to have correct and comprehensive knowl- edge of HIV and AIDS and more likely to have healthy children when they eventually become mothers.When it is of good quality and relevant to children's lives,education empowers like nothing else,giving adolescents,both female and male,the knowledge,skills and confidence to meet the global challenges of our times. The urgent need to confront these challenges is the fourth reason for investing in adolescence.Rich and poor alike, adolescents will have to deal with the intergenerational implications of the current economic turmoil,including the structural unemployment that may persist in its wake.They will have to contend with climate change and environmen- tal degradation,explosive urbanization and migration, ageing societies and the rising cost of health care,the HIV and AIDS pandemic,and humanitarian crises of increasing number,frequency and severity. Far more so than adults,adolescents are disproportionately represented in countries where these critical challenges are likely to be most pressing:those with the lowest incomes, the highest levels of political instability and the fastest rates of urban growth;those most exposed to civil strife and nat- ural disasters and most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change.The adolesecents of these countries will need to be equipped with the skills and capacities to address such challenges as they arise throughout the century. The well-being and the active participation of adolescents are fundamental to the effectiveness of a life-cycle approach that can break the intergenerational transmission The fifth and final argument for investing in adolescence of poverty,exclusion and discrimination.A girl asks a question at a special assembly held relates to the way adolescents are portrayed.This quintile at the Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem,New York City,USA. of the global populace is commonly referred to as the 'next THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
4 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 large cohort of unemployed youth, which in 2009 stood at around 81 million worldwide.8 For those who are employed, decent work is scarce: In 2010, young people aged 15–24 formed around one quarter of the world’s working poor.9 In a recent survey of international companies operating in developing countries, more than 20 per cent considered the inadequate education of workers to be a significant obstacle to higher levels of corporate investment and faster economic growth.10 The intergenerational transmission of poverty is most apparent among adolescent girls. Educational disadvantage and gender discrimination are potent factors that force them into lives of exclusion and penury, child marriage and domestic violence. Around one third of girls in the developing world, excluding China, are married before age 18; in a few countries, almost 30 per cent of girls under 15 are also married.11 The poorest adolescent girls are also those most likely to be married early, with rates of child marriage roughly three times higher than among their peers from the richest quintile of households. Girls who marry early are also most at risk of being caught up in the negative cycle of premature childbearing, high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and high levels of child undernutrition. And there is firm evidence to suggest that undernutrition is among the foremost factors that undermine early childhood development.12 Adopting a life-cycle approach to child development, with greater attention given to the care, empowerment and protection of adolescents, girls in particular, is the soundest way to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Time and again, evidence shows that educated girls are less likely to marry early, less likely to get pregnant as teenagers, more likely to have correct and comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS and more likely to have healthy children when they eventually become mothers. When it is of good quality and relevant to children’s lives, education empowers like nothing else, giving adolescents, both female and male, the knowledge, skills and confidence to meet the global challenges of our times. The urgent need to confront these challenges is the fourth reason for investing in adolescence. Rich and poor alike, adolescents will have to deal with the intergenerational implications of the current economic turmoil, including the structural unemployment that may persist in its wake. They will have to contend with climate change and environmental degradation, explosive urbanization and migration, ageing societies and the rising cost of health care, the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and humanitarian crises of increasing number, frequency and severity. Far more so than adults, adolescents are disproportionately represented in countries where these critical challenges are likely to be most pressing: those with the lowest incomes, the highest levels of political instability and the fastest rates of urban growth; those most exposed to civil strife and natural disasters and most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change. The adolesecents of these countries will need to be equipped with the skills and capacities to address such challenges as they arise throughout the century. The fifth and final argument for investing in adolescence relates to the way adolescents are portrayed. This quintile of the global populace is commonly referred to as the ‘next The well-being and the active participation of adolescents are fundamental to the effectiveness of a life-cycle approach that can break the intergenerational transmission of poverty, exclusion and discrimination. A girl asks a question at a special assembly held at the Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem, New York City, USA