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The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, Cairo 1994) is described often as a watershed in the understanding of population and development issues. It not only endorsed the idea of rights based approaches in health through the adoption of the concept of 'reproductive rights' but also attempted to do away with the earlier “population explosion rhetoric”, and included sustainable development, along with the need to look at varied populations – the indigenous, the disabled, migrants, the elderly and adolescents and young etc. It acknowledged and provided separate and autonomous space to young people to discuss their concerns related to reproductive and sexual health.

The large proportion of young people in India at this point in time can be considered to be a demographic ‘dividend’ especially if this group is provided with enabling opportunities, appropriate resources and equipped to become productive assets in society. It is thus very important to put in place the most appropriate interventions for youth cohort now.

Although the Planning Commission in its eleventh five year plan provided comprehensive opportunities for development of young people in the area of health, education, employment & skill and youth affairs; the involvement of young people remains limited in policies and programmes of government and civil society. The denial that adolescents are increasingly sexually active often hinders attempts to include youth as active partners in formulating programmes, policies and service that would address

In order to correct this imbalance and make this important population group visible, Gains and Gaps ICPD +15: a civil society review in India in collaboration with CHETNA is organising is organising a “National Consultation on addressing youth concerns and synthesizing key advocacy issues” at Ahmedabad.

About the Consultation

The Consultation would have significant representation of young people and we are expecting about 50 young people from across the country to participate in this important event. We would request you to give due coverage to this vibrant event and invite your reporter/correspondent to interact with the young people and capture their voices/their concerns during August 3-4, 2010. On the first day, young people and adolescents from all over the country with different educational background will share and depict their dreams/aspirations, issues and concerns on a large canvas. Parallel events to assess their present health status, edutainment games on different themes and counseling sessions will be organized. On the second day, skill building workshops will be organized enabling and empowering the young people to work in their respective communities. The event would culminate by young people presenting the concerns to the Government and ensuring government’s commitments to address the same.