(Excerpt from Keynote Address, National Population Conference on Sustainable Development Goals in conjunction with World Population Day 2016)

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was adopted by all 193 UN Member States including Malaysia in September 2015. Through these 17 global goals and their 169 targets, Governments have committed to eradicate poverty, fight inequalities, build peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies, and secure the future of the planet and the wellbeing of future generations over the next 15 years. The central objective of the Sustainable Development Goals is to leave no one behind.

ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY BY INVESTING IN TEENAGE GIRLS

Despite significant gains made in reducing poverty and improving opportunity and well-being for many people around the world, hundreds of millions of people remain desperate for a chance of a better future. Among those least served by previous development initiatives are girls, particularly those in their formative teenage years. The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an unprecedented opportunity for teenage girls to claim their rights, realize their aspirations and transform our world. When countries like Malaysia invest in the health and education of their youth, especially teenage girls, and create opportunities for them to realize their full potential, they are better positioned to realize a demographic dividend, which can boost economic growth to combat poverty.

‘The new development agenda calls on us to leave no one behind. To reach those furthest behind, leaders and communities must focus on and stand up for the human rights of the most marginalized teenage girls, particularly those who are poor, out of school, exploited, or subjected to harmful traditional practices, including child marriage.’

‘Marginalized girls are vulnerable to poor reproductive health and more likely to become mothers while still children themselves. They have a right to understand and control their own bodies and shape their own lives.’ – Dr. Babatunde

This would require a process of re-envisioning the future of all young girls, recognizing the diverse trajectories that their lives could take, and anticipating what could go wrong and protecting them in advance. Girls who stay in school have improved health outcomes because pregnancy is delayed into adulthood, when their bodies and minds are better equipped to deal with the challenges. Today’s parents may have smaller families, but their resources are invested strategically in the health and education of their children. The women are also able to stay longer within the workforce, and return sooner than would otherwise have been possible, increasing the resources that are available for investment in the next generation. As a result, there are overall improved social and economic benefits of investing in teenage girls and paving the pathway for a productive future, both for themselves, their families, their communities and their nation.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

As of 2013, young women accounted for 56% of all tertiary level enrolments. However, despite this progress, the 2010 Population Census indicates that

Child marriages inherently have higher rates of divorce within the first year, they result in higher rates of child poverty (amongst the children who are parents as well as their children).

there are over 80,000 girls and 70,000 boys under 19 who are married. Child marriages inherently have higher rates of divorce within the first year, they result in higher rates of child poverty (amongst the children who are parents as well as their children). In addition, there is a denial of childhood and adolescence, the curtailment of freedom to pursue an education and gainful employment, the limiting of social and economic opportunities and the denial of reproductive health and emotional well-being as a result of continued discrimination, and this despite the attempt to mitigate the situation through the conduct of the marriage. 

Young women continue to suffer from various forms of sexual and intimate partner violence, as well as new forms of threats to their safety and security as a result of the use of social media and cell-phone-based technologies. While the high rates of internet penetration can be a benefit to young people, necessary measures need to be taken to ensure online safety and security, particularly in preventing sexual grooming and other predatory behavior that are particularly enabled by the internet and social media platforms.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

As we empower our young people, one key challenge for us adults is to learn to trust them to take responsible decisions – to protect themselves against HIV, from unplanned and early pregnancies, and practice healthy control over their own bodies. In fully realizing their potential, in harnessing each and every individual’s contributions, Malaysia’s young women will drive the engines of productivity towards social and economic advancement and building the high-income nation of tomorrow.

UNFPA supports Malaysia’s efforts to empower teenage girls by protecting their human rights and universal access to information and services, including sexual and reproductive health services, which has been proven internationally as one of the best ways to delay the onset of sexual debut and prevent unplanned pregnancies. The National Population and Family Development Board has been an important partner in terms of building understanding amongst key stakeholders, including religious leaders, teachers, parents and community members on the importance of sexual and reproductive health education and youth-friendly services.

UNFPA believe that together we will create such opportunities for our young women to find their place under the sun as leaders, innovators, change-agents and entrepreneurs of the future, and close every loophole that could potentially derail their lives. The horizon for young women of Malaysia needs to reflect the width and breadth of their unbridled hope, their aspirations and their ideals to move Malaysia towards fully developed status.

Let us together create the enabling environment to help them achieve their dreams.

Download : Popinfo Issue 2 /2016