Adolescents & youth

UNFPA promotes comprehensive sexuality education for both in- and out-of-school adolescents by promoting supportive national policies, strengthening curricula, training teachers and developing tools to measure implementation in schools. Comprehensive sexuality education is complemented by the use of information communication technologies such as the Internet and social media, improving young people’s access to reliable information. For the current status of CSE in Asia and the Pacific, read 'LEARN. PROTECT. RESPECT. EMPOWER. The Status of Comprehensive Sexuality Education In Asia-pacific: A Summary Review 2020'. 

Digital Sexuality Education

Given the urgent need for online outreach amid COVID-19, the Asia-Pacific regional office established a new partnership with Advocates for Youth to adapt their powerful AMAZE sexuality education videos for young audiences in Asia-Pacific. AMAZE harnesses the power of digital media to provide very young adolescents (ages 10-14) around the globe with medically accurate, age-appropriate, affirming, and honest sexuality education that they can access directly online, along with resources for parents and educators.

AMAZE videos address Sexual and Reproductive Health and life skills topics that can be used by teachers, out of school CSE facilitators, peer educators and parents to support delivery of in or out of school CSE through face to face or remote learning modalities and educators. 

 

Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

In development, humanitarian and protracted crisis settings, UNFPA promotes the scaling up of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services that respect clients’ right to confidentiality and do not judge, stigmatize or discriminate against them. UNFPA advocates for the elimination of legal and policy barriers to accessing information and services. Read this report and country case studies that provides updates on recent legal and policy trends and developments affecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in Asia and the Pacific.

'My Body is My Body, My Life is My Life: Sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in Asia and the Pacific' highlights the current status of young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and examines key priorities in Asia and the Pacific to support informed policy, programming and advocacy. 

UNFPA also supports and partners with youth-led organizations in the region and provides opportunities for young people to participate in high-level advocacy events. The Y-PEER, or youth peer education initiative, active throughout the region, trains thousands of young people to be advocates for and sources of factual information on sexual and reproductive health, and to act as mentors to their peers on these important life-shaping issues.

Globally, half of the 1.4 billion people living in countries affected by crises and fragility today are under the age of 20. Many of these young people are among the first to step up to help their communities rebuild.  UNFPA is a key advocate for ‘The Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action’, a global call to prioritize the needs and rights of young people affected by emergencies.