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 3the emerging generation 3 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which applies to all adoles￾cent 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 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.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 ineq￾uity often pass to the next generation as poor adolescent girls give birth to impoverished children. This is particu￾larly 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 employ￾ment 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