As global leaders converged in Rwanda for the Women Deliver Conference, the push towards having more women leading strategic positions in the economy was a focal point of discussion.
During a virtual meeting with the Senior Strategic Adviser and Team Lead for Global Forum for Adolescents, at Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), Anshu Mohan, explained that the focus on advocacy for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health and well-being, by PMNCH, is centered on increased investment in youth and adolescents for national development.
Mohan also said that PMNCH advocacy on 1.8 Billion Young People campaign for change slated for October, 2023, was aimed at seeking solution, addressing challenges of young women and girls as well as their inclusion in political spheres
Why should Women, youth well-being be a priority
According to WHO, the world has more young people than at any time in history and 1.8 billion adolescents and youth (ages 10-24) will fall short of potential if current policies and investment approaches fail to meet their needs.
The Global Forum
Talking about “The Global Forum, it is one of the biggest milestones under the campaign, with three objectives; which includes; bringing together policymakers, young people, stakeholders including academia and donors to discuss solutions, evidences and gaps that have been identified and how best to addressing those gaps”.
Mohan noted that “Women Deliver 2023 Conference and Global Dialogue are co-created by grassroots advocates, multilateral governments, the private sector, philanthropies, and youths representing communities facing systemic discrimination”.
“So there will be sharing of new evidence that we have done over the past three, four years, which includes the Adolescent Well-being Framework. An investment case for adolescent well being as well as approaches for measurement of Adolescent Well-being”.
According to her the organisation will kick-start a multi-year journey of continuously advocacy for adolescents through the Global Forum for Adolescents and setting the tone for agenda for post 2030 “because the SDGs conclude in seven years, and then we have to start thinking of what happens after that.”
“The multiple issues of the conversation has been at different levels, from the granular issues like mental health, and menstrual hygiene, which has come up in a big way is normally a taboo subject, as opposed to violence against women”
She however assured that demands of young people and women will be shared until it attracts the desired attention of policy makers, ensuring they make commitments that would lead to sustainable outcome.
Reporting by Julian Osamoto; editing by Adeniyi Bakare