UNFPA study in 14 countries in UNFPA study in 14 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Eastern Europe and Central AsiaAsia

2006 - 20072006 - 2007

Presentation for EYCA Trafo Youth Information Training Course8-10 June 2009

By Yael Ohana, Ditta Dolejsiova and Chris GrollmanBy Yael Ohana, Ditta Dolejsiova and Chris Grollman

The The Review ProcessReview Process

Covers youth realities and policy provisions in 14 countries of Europe & Central Asia and Kosovo

Provides evidence to assist UNFPA in contributing to youth policy development and appropriate youth programming

Contribution to a broader process of UN support to youth policy and programming

Global Global TTrends rends IIn n YYouth outh DDevelopmentevelopmentLengthened and more uncertain transitions from

childhood to adulthood Increased vulnerability to risks posed by

globalisationGrowing difficulty to gain access to and stay in

employment in comparison to other age groups Lacking perspectives – strong tendency towards

migration, growing risk of traffickingRisk-taking (voluntary or involuntary) begins

earlier Girls and young women, LGBT young people, very

poor youth, those living with HIV/AIDS, minorities, the disabled and young people in conflict regions are particularly vulnerable to risks and shocks and are less likely to bounce back

Emerging Trends Between Emerging Trends Between Countries?Countries? Migration and mobilityYoung people want to leave these countries

because they do not feel they have a future perspective there and because travel is still an attractive “luxury” due to visa restrictions and the high financial cost it involves

Un/employment Young people have difficulty in accessing the

labour market and have difficulty to find satisfying, correctly paid and protected work. Once on the labour market they have difficulty to progress and access further training and skills development. There is a notable lack of specific job creation mechanisms for young people

Emerging Trends Between Emerging Trends Between Countries?Countries? EducationDespite the general availability of

education, the quality of the education on offer is poor and does not help young people to compete on the labour market. In some countries of the region basic school completion is even falling and high school enrolment is also falling

Poverty and vulnerabilityThis is a big problem in general in these

countries, with the gap between rich and poor growing ever deeper. Some categories of young people are particularly poor: Roma, LGBT, young women in rural communities and young men and boys who are neither in school nor in work.

Emerging Trends Between Emerging Trends Between Countries?Countries? HealthUnsafe sex is the norm and there is a

growing incidence of intravenous drug use. A HIV/AIDS epidemic is feared. The fragility of social institutions in the region has taken its toll on the health of adolescent girls and young women. Childbearing under age 24 is still common although, the age of marriage and first childbearing is increasing. Risk taking is becoming more common, a problem given the general lack of support institutions and prevention activities

Emerging Trends Between Emerging Trends Between Countries?Countries? Values High value is placed on entering or

becoming closer integrated with the EU. It is increasingly difficult for young people to balance traditional values with the modern lifestyles they come into contact with through information and communication technologies. Growing minority of young people tempted by extremism of different kinds (religious, political). This can be used against young people by political elites.

And, some very worrying And, some very worrying particularities!particularities!- The growing instance of trafficking of

young people- The lack of social support for young

working parents – child care is now sold as a commodity and very difficult for young working parents to afford so young mothers stay at home

- Lack of social support mechanisms for growing numbers of homeless children growing into adolescents on the street

- Juvenile crime – young people are affected both as perpetrators and as victims and juvenile crime is becoming more violent (exception is Armenia)

- Lack of participation channels and policies