New York, SANA – The United Nation Population Fund stressed that achieving sustainable development will not be possible without making better use of the capabilities of society’s members, particularly 10-year-old girls.
The 2016 State of World Population report noted that of 125 million 10-year-olds today, 60 million are girls who are systematically disadvantaged at the global level as they move through adolescence into adulthood.
It stated that “practices that harm girls and violate their human rights-starting at age 10-prevent them from realizing their full potential as adults and from contributing to the economic and social progress of their communities and nations.”
“Young people aged between 10 and 24 constitute 29% of the Arab region’s overall population, half of them are girls. Only 45% of these girls go to schools,” the report added.
On October 20, 2016, the United Nations Population Fund launched its State of World Population Report globally, including via its 23 country and sub-regional offices across Asia-Pacific. This year’s theme focuses on the crucial need to fulfill the potential of 10-year-old girls in this era of the Sustainable Development Goals if we are to realize the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda with its pledge to leave no one behind.
R. Raslan / Ghossoun