More investment in young people: UNFPA CR Vallese

Kathmandu / July 11: UNFPA Country Representative for Nepal, Giulia Vallese, has said Nepal’s aspiration to become a middle-income country and to attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 rests on how much it would invest in its young people, including teenage girls, which is the theme of this year’s World Population Day (11 July, 2016).

Issuing a statement on the occasion of the World Population Day today, the Country Representative said, “With the largest proportion of young people in its current demographic structure, Nepal is poised to reap a demographic dividend – the accelerated development that can arise when a population has a relatively large proportion of working-age people coupled with effective human capital investment. Even for this to happen, we need to shine the light on why investment in young people, particularly teenage girls, is essential.”

According to her, investment in the empowerment, education, life skills and health and well-being of teenagers and particularly teenage girls determines how quickly Nepal can graduate from the least developing country.

“The challenges and obstacles faced by teenage girls multiply if they belong to the Dalit or marginalized communities, live in remote villages and are from poor households. But when teenage girls across Nepal have the power, the means and the information to participate in decision making process that affects their lives, they are more likely to realize their full potential and become a positive force for change in their homes, communities– indeed for their country, “she stressed.

She further argued that the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was an unprecedented opportunity for teenage girls to claim their rights, fulfill their responsibilities, realize their aspirations and transform our world.

Investment in the health and education of young people, especially teenage girls, was essential to realize their full potential, she added. RSS