Adolescence

OPPORTUNITIESand the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms ofDiscrimination against Women, which applies to all adolescentfemales.Second, investing in adolescence is the most effectiveway to consolidate the historic global gains achieved inearly and middle childhood since 1990. The 33 per centreduction in the global under-five mortality rate, the neareliminationof gender gaps in primary school enrolmentin several developing regions and the considerable gainsachieved in improving access to primary schooling, safewater and critical medicines such as routine immunizationsand antiretroviral drugs – all are testament to thetremendous recent progress achieved for children in earlyand middle childhood. 2most marginalized households and communities – fail tocomplete their studies or else finish with insufficient skills,especially in those high-level competencies increasinglyrequired by the modern globalized economy.This skills deficit is contributing to bleak youth employmenttrends. The global economic crisis has produced aBut the paucity of attention and resources devoted to adolescentsis threatening to limit the impact of these effortsin the second decade of an individual’s life. Evidence fromaround the world shows just how precarious that decadecan be: In Brazil, more adolescents die from violence thando children under five from disease and ill health. 3 Globalnet attendance for secondary school is roughly one thirdlower than for primary school. 4 Worldwide, one third of allnew HIV cases involve young people aged 15–24. 5 And inthe developing world, excluding China, 1 in every 3 girlsgets married before the age of 18. 6 When confronted withthese facts, it is hard to avoid the question: Are our effortsin support of children’s rights and well-being limited by alack of support for adolescents?Third, investing in adolescents can accelerate the fightagainst poverty, inequity and gender discrimination.Adolescence is the pivotal decade when poverty and inequityoften pass to the next generation as poor adolescentgirls give birth to impoverished children. This is particularlytrue among adolescents with low levels of education.Almost half the world’s adolescents of the appropriate agedo not attend secondary school. 7 And when they do attend,many of them – particularly those from the poorest andA stronger focus on the second decade of life is imperative to meeting internationalcommitments to children and creating a more peaceful, tolerant and equitable world.Young students in a secondary school that promotes gender equality, diversity, a cultureof peace and respect for human rights; improves social and study skills and self-esteemamong students; and encourages the participation of parents and other communitymembers, Colombia.the emerging generation3