A keener focus on the development and human rights of adolescents would both enhance and accelerate the fight against poverty,inequality and gender discrimination.Hawa, 12 (at left),recently re-enrolled in school following the intervention of the National Network of Mothers' Associations for Girls,which advocates for girls'education,Cameroon. CHAPTER 1 The Emerging Generation THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
The Emerging Generation A keener focus on the development and human rights of adolescents would both enhance and accelerate the fight against poverty, inequality and gender discrimination. Hawa, 12 (at left), recently re-enrolled in school following the intervention of the National Network of Mothers’ Associations for Girls, which advocates for girls’ education, Cameroon. CHAPTER 1 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011
GLobal challenges for adolescents 1 The Emerging Generation
CHALLENGES AND Adolescence is an age of opportunity for children,and a pivotal time for us to build on their development in the first decade of life,to help them navigate risks and vulnerabilities,and to set them on the path to fulfilling their potential. The world is home to 1.2 billion individuals aged 10-19 In this context,the conventional wisdom might dictate that years.These adolescents have lived most or all of their most resources be devoted to children and young people in lives under the Millennium Declaration,the unprecedented the first decade of their lives.After all,that is when they global compact that since 2000 has sought a better world are most vulnerable to death,disease and undernutrition; for all. when the effects of unsafe water and poor sanitation pose the greatest threat to their lives;and when the absence of Many of their number have benefited from the gains in education,protection and care can have the most pernicious child survival,education,access to safe water,and other lifetime implications. areas of development that stand as concrete successes of the drive to meet the Millennium Development Goals,the In contrast,adolescents are generally stronger and human development targets at the core of the Declaration. healthier than younger children;most have already ben- But now they have arrived at a pivot- efited from basic education;and many al moment in their lives-just as the world as a whole is facing a critical "I want to participate in are among the hardest and,potentially, most costly to reach with essential moment in this new millennium. developing my country services and protection.It hardly seems and promoting human judicious,in these fiscally straitened In just three years,confidence in times,to focus greater attention on the world economy has plummeted. rights for people all them. Unemployment has risen sharply,and real household incomes have fallen or over the world." Such reasoning,though seemingly stagnated.At the time of writing,in Amira,17.Egypt sound in theory,is flawed for several late 2010,the global economic out- reasons,all stemming from one critical look remains highly uncertain,and notion:Lasting change in the lives of the possibility of a prolonged economic malaise,with nega- children and young people,a critical underlying motiva- tive implications for social and economic progress in many tion of the Millennium Declaration,can only be achieved countries,developing and industrialized alike,still looms. and sustained by complementing investment in the first decade of life with greater attention and resources This economic turmoil and uncertainty have raised the applied to the second. spectre of fiscal austerity,particularly in some industrial- ized economies,resulting in a more stringent approach to The imperative of investing in adolescence social spending and overseas development assistance.In The arguments for investing in adolescence are fivefold. developing countries,too,public finances have tightened, The first is that it is right in principle under existing human and social spending,including investments in child-related rights treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the areas,has come under greater scrutiny. Child,which applies to around 80 per cent of adolescents, THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
2 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 In this context, the conventional wisdom might dictate that most resources be devoted to children and young people in the first decade of their lives. After all, that is when they are most vulnerable to death, disease and undernutrition; when the effects of unsafe water and poor sanitation pose the greatest threat to their lives; and when the absence of education, protection and care can have the most pernicious lifetime implications. In contrast, adolescents are generally stronger and healthier than younger children; most have already benefited from basic education; and many are among the hardest and, potentially, most costly to reach with essential services and protection. It hardly seems judicious, in these fiscally straitened times, to focus greater attention on them. Such reasoning, though seemingly sound in theory, is flawed for several reasons, all stemming from one critical notion: Lasting change in the lives of children and young people, a critical underlying motivation of the Millennium Declaration, can only be achieved and sustained by complementing investment in the first decade of life with greater attention and resources applied to the second. The imperative of investing in adolescence The arguments for investing in adolescence are fivefold. The first is that it is right in principle under existing human rights treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which applies to around 80 per cent of adolescents, The world is home to 1.2 billion individuals aged 10–19 years.1 These adolescents have lived most or all of their lives under the Millennium Declaration, the unprecedented global compact that since 2000 has sought a better world for all. Many of their number have benefited from the gains in child survival, education, access to safe water, and other areas of development that stand as concrete successes of the drive to meet the Millennium Development Goals, the human development targets at the core of the Declaration. But now they have arrived at a pivotal moment in their lives – just as the world as a whole is facing a critical moment in this new millennium. In just three years, confidence in the world economy has plummeted. Unemployment has risen sharply, and real household incomes have fallen or stagnated. At the time of writing, in late 2010, the global economic outlook remains highly uncertain, and the possibility of a prolonged economic malaise, with negative implications for social and economic progress in many countries, developing and industrialized alike, still looms. This economic turmoil and uncertainty have raised the spectre of fiscal austerity, particularly in some industrialized economies, resulting in a more stringent approach to social spending and overseas development assistance. In developing countries, too, public finances have tightened, and social spending, including investments in child-related areas, has come under greater scrutiny. “I want to participate in developing my country and promoting human rights for people all over the world.” Amira, 17, Egypt Adolescence is an age of opportunity for children, and a pivotal time for us to build on their development in the first decade of life, to help them navigate risks and vulnerabilities, and to set them on the path to fulfilling their potential. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
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 3
the emerging generation 3 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which applies to all adolescent 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 nearelimination 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 immunizations 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 adolescents 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 inequity often pass to the next generation as poor adolescent girls give birth to impoverished children. This is particularly 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 employment 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
large cohort of unemployed youth,which in 2009 stood The poorest adolescent girls are also those most likely at around 81 million worldwide.s For those who are to be married early,with rates of child marriage roughly employed,decent work is scarce:In 2010,young people three times higher than among their peers from the rich- aged 15-24 formed around one quarter of the world's est quintile of households.Girls who marry early are also working poor.?In a recent survey of international com- most at risk of being caught up in the negative cycle of panies operating in developing countries,more than 20 premature childbearing,high rates of maternal mortality per cent considered the inadequate education of workers to and morbidity and high levels of child undernutrition. be a significant obstacle to higher levels of corporate invest- And there is firm evidence to suggest that undernutrition ment and faster economic growth.10 is among the foremost factors that undermine early child- hood development.12 The intergenerational transmission of poverty is most appar- ent among adolescent girls.Educational disadvantage and Adopting a life-cycle approach to child development,with gender discrimination are potent factors that force them into greater attention given to the care,empowerment and pro- lives of exclusion and penury,child marriage and domestic tection of adolescents,girls in particular,is the soundest violence.Around one third of girls in the developing world, way to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. excluding China,are married before age 18;in a few coun- Time and again,evidence shows that educated girls are less tries,almost 30 per cent of girls under 15 are also married. likely to marry early,less likely to get pregnant as teenag- ers,more likely to have correct and comprehensive knowl- edge of HIV and AIDS and more likely to have healthy children when they eventually become mothers.When it is of good quality and relevant to children's lives,education empowers like nothing else,giving adolescents,both female and male,the knowledge,skills and confidence to meet the global challenges of our times. The urgent need to confront these challenges is the fourth reason for investing in adolescence.Rich and poor alike, adolescents will have to deal with the intergenerational implications of the current economic turmoil,including the structural unemployment that may persist in its wake.They will have to contend with climate change and environmen- tal degradation,explosive urbanization and migration, ageing societies and the rising cost of health care,the HIV and AIDS pandemic,and humanitarian crises of increasing number,frequency and severity. Far more so than adults,adolescents are disproportionately represented in countries where these critical challenges are likely to be most pressing:those with the lowest incomes, the highest levels of political instability and the fastest rates of urban growth;those most exposed to civil strife and nat- ural disasters and most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change.The adolesecents of these countries will need to be equipped with the skills and capacities to address such challenges as they arise throughout the century. The well-being and the active participation of adolescents are fundamental to the effectiveness of a life-cycle approach that can break the intergenerational transmission The fifth and final argument for investing in adolescence of poverty,exclusion and discrimination.A girl asks a question at a special assembly held relates to the way adolescents are portrayed.This quintile at the Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem,New York City,USA. of the global populace is commonly referred to as the 'next THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2011
4 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011 large cohort of unemployed youth, which in 2009 stood at around 81 million worldwide.8 For those who are employed, decent work is scarce: In 2010, young people aged 15–24 formed around one quarter of the world’s working poor.9 In a recent survey of international companies operating in developing countries, more than 20 per cent considered the inadequate education of workers to be a significant obstacle to higher levels of corporate investment and faster economic growth.10 The intergenerational transmission of poverty is most apparent among adolescent girls. Educational disadvantage and gender discrimination are potent factors that force them into lives of exclusion and penury, child marriage and domestic violence. Around one third of girls in the developing world, excluding China, are married before age 18; in a few countries, almost 30 per cent of girls under 15 are also married.11 The poorest adolescent girls are also those most likely to be married early, with rates of child marriage roughly three times higher than among their peers from the richest quintile of households. Girls who marry early are also most at risk of being caught up in the negative cycle of premature childbearing, high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and high levels of child undernutrition. And there is firm evidence to suggest that undernutrition is among the foremost factors that undermine early childhood development.12 Adopting a life-cycle approach to child development, with greater attention given to the care, empowerment and protection of adolescents, girls in particular, is the soundest way to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Time and again, evidence shows that educated girls are less likely to marry early, less likely to get pregnant as teenagers, more likely to have correct and comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS and more likely to have healthy children when they eventually become mothers. When it is of good quality and relevant to children’s lives, education empowers like nothing else, giving adolescents, both female and male, the knowledge, skills and confidence to meet the global challenges of our times. The urgent need to confront these challenges is the fourth reason for investing in adolescence. Rich and poor alike, adolescents will have to deal with the intergenerational implications of the current economic turmoil, including the structural unemployment that may persist in its wake. They will have to contend with climate change and environmental degradation, explosive urbanization and migration, ageing societies and the rising cost of health care, the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and humanitarian crises of increasing number, frequency and severity. Far more so than adults, adolescents are disproportionately represented in countries where these critical challenges are likely to be most pressing: those with the lowest incomes, the highest levels of political instability and the fastest rates of urban growth; those most exposed to civil strife and natural disasters and most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change. The adolesecents of these countries will need to be equipped with the skills and capacities to address such challenges as they arise throughout the century. The fifth and final argument for investing in adolescence relates to the way adolescents are portrayed. This quintile of the global populace is commonly referred to as the ‘next The well-being and the active participation of adolescents are fundamental to the effectiveness of a life-cycle approach that can break the intergenerational transmission of poverty, exclusion and discrimination. A girl asks a question at a special assembly held at the Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem, New York City, USA