“To unleash the power of young people, we need to partner with them”- UN SG – Ban Ki-moon
Dar es Salaam - The UN system in the context of Delivering as One in Tanzania collaborated with the government of Tanzania, youth organizations and partner NGOs to commemorate the International Youth Day (IYD) on 11 August at Mwembe Yanga grounds in Temeke district.
The IYD is celebrated internationally each year on 12 August. The theme for this year’s observance was “Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth”. It emphasizes a global call to action for young men and women, as well as other stakeholders around the world, to develop and engage in partnerships with and for youth towards building a better world.
In Tanzania just like in other countries, IYD provides an important opportunity to build upon the priorities of the government on youth agenda, to share information with youth as well as respond to calls from youth organizations. This is the right opportunity to strengthen partnerships and collaboration with young people, especially in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, and citizenship, protection of rights, education opportunities and issues pertaining to sexual reproductive health.
In his statement, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon emphasized and called on strengthening of partnership with young people. He held in part that the UN “calls on governments, the private sector, civil society and academia to open doors for young people and strengthen partnerships with the youth-led organizations. Youth can determine whether this era moves toward greater peril or more positive change. Without urgent measures, we risk creating a “lost generation” of squandered talent”. He commented.
The Guest of Honor at the ceremony was the Minister of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr. Fenella Mukangara. In a speech read on her behalf she said, “Youth development as crosscutting starts from the family, community, national and international levels, therefore the Ministry calls for a concerted effort to create an enabling environment for partnering with youth”.
The United Nations in Tanzania was represented by the UNFPA Acting Representative in the country, Ms. Mariam Khan. She urged the government and the society to commit to incorporating youth as partners and ensure that youth participate in decision making at every level in their families, in communities and within the nation. “Young people need to have a voice in matters that concern them and their communities”, Khan stated during the 2012 International Youth Day.
The event t highlighted key issues specific to Tanzania youth under five thematic areas including HIV prevention. In Tanzania, Youth aged 15 – 19 account for 60% of all new HIV infections, 2.4% of adults aged 15 – 24 are infected with HIV this is according to the 2008, Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey. It also presents that young women aged 15 – 10 are four times more likely to be infected than their male counterparts. The key message at the event was “Turning the tide together, reducing the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV”.
The second key message was on Gender based violence. The concern was on prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation or circumcision-FGM/C . Trends show a slight decline over the past few years, from 18% in 1996 to 15% in 2010. Overall, 11 % of women aged 20 – 24 and 75 of girls aged 15 – 19 have undergone FGM/C. The key message advocated for was “FGM/C violates the right to the highest attainable standard of health and to physical and mental integrity of women and girls”. Or “It is possible to end FGM/C without giving up meaningful aspects of culture – Stand up against FGM/C”
The third key message was on the ratification of the Africa Youth Charter reservation: In February of 2012, The Government of Tanzania ratified the Africa Youth Charter with a reservation on Article 13.4h which states “ensure, where applicable, that girls and young women who become pregnant or married before completing their education shall have the opportunity to continue their education”. The key message: “Pregnant or not all girls have the right to be in school”
The fourth key message was on the upcoming Census which is scheduled to take place on August 26th 2012, the census will provide age and sex disaggregated data for improved policy formulation and development planning at national, sub-national and sectoral levels. The key message for the youth is that they should avail themselves for the census since “Good data is the foundation to economic development – stand up and be counted for a better tomorrow”.
The fifth message was on Family planning. Almost one quarter of women aged 15 – 19 are either pregnant with their first child or are already mothers. Family planning alone reduces one third of maternal deaths, which is the leading cause of death among pregnant adolescents’ girls, especially from poor households. The unmet need for family planning stands at 16% for currently married women aged 15 – 19 and 24.4% for currently married women aged 20 – 24. The key message shared with the youth was “Plan your life, Plan your future”.
To celebrate the day, two football matches (male and female teams) were organized; voluntary HIV counseling and testing services; family planning information and services; entertainment from several youth organizations; and an educational exhibition organized by UNIC’s Reference Assistant Harriet Macha was open to the young people.
Prior to 12 August, youth visited media houses as part of a media campaign to promote awareness on the key messages and inform the youth about their International Youth Day 2012 and the events that would take place. Media houses that were visited included TBC’s Busati discussion panel programme, Clouds interviews and discussions, Choicefm panel discussion and Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) radios; TBC and Star TV stations for discussion programmes.
This event was organized by a committee comprising of UNESCO, ILO, UNIC,UNFPA, AMREF, Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Information, Youth , Sports and culture, Children’s Dignity Forum, Temeke Youth Development Network, Tanzania Youth Coalition and Youth of the United Nations Association.