GLOBAL: COVERAGE ON WORLD YOUTH DAY

BOLIVIA: El Cambio reported on 13 August on the situation of young people in the country and in the world.  According to data from UNFPA, the worldwide youth population is now 1.8 billion, the highest figure in human history. Read in Spanish: Cambio

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Multiple media outlets reported on 12 August on International Youth Day. UNFPA Assistant Representative Faris Hadrovic, invited representatives of the government to strengthen their work and dialogue with youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Young people have rights and they should be included in decision-making processes that directly involve them. Cooperation between the government and youth is very important in order to respond more successfully to the challenges of creating a better future for all. Inter-generation cooperation is the key to achieving promises made in the Millennium Declaration and MDGs to create a more prosperous environment for youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Read in Bosnian: Sarajevo-x.com and radiosarajevo.ba

BRAZIL: Folha de Sao Paulo published a special report on 14 August analyzing the implications of the world population of 7 billion, due to be reached by October. Despite the fact that the population has doubled in only 39 years, rising from 3 billion in 1960 to 6 billion in 1999, the pace of growth has decreased and tends to stabilize around 2100 according to UN projections. Education and family planning are among the factors that are leading to this scenario, according to demographers, while technological innovation has played a key role by ensuring food supply and better living conditions. However, global warming is a new threat to be taken into account. UNFPA’s 2009 State of the World Population Report was quoted, among other UN studies, stressing the need for improved access to education and modern contraceptive methods as one long-term strategy to curb global warming.

CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): DRTV broadcast on 13 August the message of UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin, on the occasion of World Youth Day 2011, delivered in Congo by UNFPA Representative David Lawson. He stressed that youth constitute the largest portion of the population ever, and called on them to "Change our World," the theme of the international day.

Multiple media outlets reported on 13 August on a Youth Caucus jointly organized by the Youth Ministry, UNFPA and the National Youth Council for World Youth Day. A gathering of over 200 young people discussed how Congolese youth intends to "change its world" in Congo. In his opening remarks, UNFPA Representative David Lawson said, "Youth is the future of this planet and should reflect on how best contribute to making a safer more equitable and better world. Congo is in the middle of a societal transformation to which youth should contribute by seizing opportunities. It is your dreams that the world of tomorrow will be made of. UNFPA will support youth as one of its key priorities, including to enhance its ideas and institutional, organizational and advocacy capacity."  Read in French: Congo-Site

LAO PDR: Xinhua reported on 12 August that UNFPA brought together 60 of the brightest young people  from Laos' capital of Vientiane to celebrate International  Youth Day (IYD). The theme "Youth Involvement: Opportunity for Development in Lao PDR," the event highlighted the contributions young people  are making to society in order to promote their full and effective  participation in the country's development. According to the UNFPA in Laos, the event included information sharing, group discussions and performances about youth-related issues. The young participants from the Lao government and international organizations, aged 16 to 24, came away from the event with practical plans for further action,

MEXICO: La Jornada, Milenio Diario, and Notimex reported on 12 August on celebrations of International Youth Day in Mexico and around the world.  During a press conference on the occasion of International Youth Year closure, Mr. Ivan Castellanos, National Programme Associate on Population, Development and Youth of UNFPA pointed out that the current number of young-people between 15 and 24 years is the highest in history, and their present and future needs in education, sexual and reproductive health and access to employment, must be considered a priority. He also said that it is important to promote a decent job for young people, that they have access to social security and a contract. During the press conference UNFPA Mexico and Tendiendo Puentes launched the Fifth Photography Contest, “Mirada Joven” aimed to learn about the way young people think and feel about a world of seven billion people in the context of UNFPA’s campaign “Seven Billion Actions.” Read in Spanish:  La Jornada (a), La Jornada (b) Milenio and Notimex

SOUTH SUDAN: Sudan Tribune reported on 12 August on an event marking World Youth Day, noting that UNFPA, one of the partners in the event, also reiterated its commitment to promote and protect the rights of adolescents and youth, whereby girls and boys have optimal opportunities to develop their full potential. “UNFPA promotes life-skills education and universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, and HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for young people. In addition, UNFPA acts to empower young women, including adolescent girls and to prevent all forms of gender-based violence,” partly reads a statement. Read: Sudan Tribune

URUGUAY: Sociedad Uruguaya published on 11 August the message from the UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin for International Youth Day. Read more in Spanish: Sociedad Uruguaya

VENEZUELA: El Mundo Economía y Negocio published an op-ed on 11 August by UNFPA Assistant Representative Jorge González Caro on International Youth Day. The article focused on the current situation of youth in Venezuela, pointing out that the proportion of young people under age 15 are increasing as a proportion of the youth population. Mr. Gonzalez Caro emphasized the relationship between adolescent pregnancies, low education level for girls, poverty and gender-based violence. Finally, he called on leaders and decision makers to understand the significance of redirecting societal resources and investing in young people today, in order to advance the rights, health and well-being of current and future generations.