Youth and the Millennium Development Goals

World Youth Conference 2010
Key Note Address NGO Forum
Werner Haug, Director, Technical Division UNFPA

23 August 2010
Léon, Mexico

Excerpt:

MDG 5: Improve maternal health

Estimates suggest that around 350,000 women are still dying in pregnancy and childbirth every year.^[7] Fortunately, there are clear signs of progress, with some countries achieving significant declines in maternal mortality ratios in recent years.

However, the rate of reduction is still well short of the 5.5 per cent annual decline needed to meet the MDG target. This is particularly relevant for young people, since pregnancy-related complications are the leading cause of death for adolescent girls. 

The target 5B on universal access to reproductive health is especially important and relevant to young people. Indeed, many youth led and youth serving organizations advocated fiercely for its adoption.

As the campaign “A Promise is a Promise”, led by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), points out, progress on this target has been poorest and most urgent actions are needed. There are far too many teenage pregnancies and adolescent births putting young mothers at risk. In many places there is still low access of girls and young women to reproductive health services and a high unmet need for contraceptive services.  

This is the one MDG that is the key to achieving many other MDGs. Women who are able to decide freely on matters related to their sexual and reproductive lives get married later, have fewer children, are more educated and contribute to healthier, more productive communities.

Some key suggestions for further actions include:

• Ensuring the access of young people, including young parents, to a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health information and services including family planning,
• Preventing early marriage, delaying pregnancies and increasing spacing of births,
• Investing in resources for health to guarantee ante-natal care, skilled attendance at birth, obstetric care in case of emergencies and post-natal care.

 ^[7] Murray, Chris.  Maternal Mortality for 181 Countries, 1980-2008: a systematic analysis of progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5, April 2010