Tuesday, 12 August 2014 00:01
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PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a forum at the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in November to address the issues that impact the youth in the South Asian region. The forum is aimed at finding collective solutions to the myriad of issues facing millions of youth, both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.
The problems are significant. One fifth of the population in South Asia is between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the World Bank. India alone has some 200 million young people. This is the largest number of young people ever to transition into adulthood, both in South Asia and in the world as a whole.
Not addressing the issues young people face today can result in adverse economic, social and political consequences. Governments and policymakers across the region are looking at youth issues, mainly education and employment, and their impact on countries’ development but the work remains daunting.
Youth unemployment is an acute problem. Young adults account for half of the unemployed. They are also six times more likely to be jobless than older workers. One reason for such large unemployment rates is because formal job growth hasn’t kept up with economic growth in most countries. Another reason is a mismatch in skills between those demanded by employers and those acquired in school. A lack of job opportunities for young people constrains further economic growth for South Asian countries.
Literacy rates among young people are low in all countries, except in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. On average, only 62% of young women can read and write (compared to 77% of young men). These statistics make South Asia the region with the largest gender gap in literacy in the world.
Knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and safe reproductive health practices is poor among youth in the region. Yet, young people are increasingly engaging in high risk behaviours. An estimated 40% report having unprotected sex. Half of all abortions are performed in unsafe conditions. An alarming 50% of HIV infections are believed to be in the 15-24 age group.
Tobacco use is becoming common among youth. Almost half of Nepali youth aged 15-24 smoke cigarettes. And a survey of school students in India found that 17.5% of 13-15 year-old students used tobacco in some form.
Young women face additional problems. Many are malnourished. More than 80% of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia. Social pressures force young women into early marriage and child bearing. Teen mothers are twice as likely as older women to die of pregnancy-related causes. Their children are at higher risk of illness and death.
Girls and young women are increasingly becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Girls in rural areas are especially vulnerable. They come from poor households and from communities where the knowledge about the trade in humans is not widespread. Little is known about the extent of this problem and its social and economic costs but its seriousness is never doubted.
Forums can only be effective if they are led not just by power but genuine will to change policies and negative attitudes. Fresh from a world youth forum, Sri Lanka has found a new cause to champion – but it has to become much, much more than a talk-shop for the sake of billions.
