Activities in Yogyakarta for the launch of UNFPA’s State of World Population (SWOP) Report 2013 highlighted the importance of youth involvement and empowering young women.

 

UNFPA, the United Nations Fund for Population prepares a global report on population issues each year. The 2013 report is entitled “Motherhood in Childhood: Facing the Challenges of Adolescent Pregnancies”.

 

Adolescents make up about 18 percent of the world’s population. Eighty-eight percent of them live in developing countries. About half (49 percent) of the world’s adolescent girls live in just six countries – China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States. Every day, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth in developing countries. Girls under 15 account for 2 million of the annual total of 7.3 million new adolescent mothers; if current trends continue, the number of births to girls under 15 could rise to 3 million a year in 2030.

 

UNFPA in Indonesia organised events in Yogyakarta for the launch of the SWOP report in collaboration with the National Population and Family Planning Board  (BKKBN), Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI), the Government of Yogyakarta, and Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), Yogyakarta Chapter.

 

The key messages at these events emphasized the empowerment of young women and addressing access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and services as the means to address adolescent pregnancy in Indonesia.

 

Launch of SWOP Report

Policy makers from both central and local governments, politicians, religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, and youth representatives attended the launch event on 8 November 2013.

 

Mr. Jose Ferraris, UNFPA Representative in Indonesia noted that adolescent pregnancy has very serious impacts on young girls’ education, health and long-term employment, which in turn affect her family and wider community.

 

In his speech, Mr. Inang Winarso, Executive Director of PKBI, indicated that young people should be able to exercise their rights to their reproductive health, and that child marriage is a barrier to girls exercising their rights. In Indonesia, the current minimum age of marriage for girls is 16 years, while for boys the minimum is 19 years.

 

His Excellency Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the Governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region also provided remarks, which were read by Sri Hartati from BPPM. His Excellency pointed out that the Government should not neglect the problem of adolescent pregnancy and that it can be addressed by involving not only the girls themselves, but also support from the community as a whole.

 

In order to ensure that girls can have a healthy and safe transition into adulthood, it is necessary to work in partnerships, across sectors, and in collaboration with girls and young women themselves, their families and their communities, including boys and young men.

 

Dr. Wendy Hartanto, Deputy for Population Management at BKKBN formally launched the SWOP report. He pointed out that family planning does not not deal with the quantity but also more importantly the quality of a nation’s population. In addition, he also highlighted the big proportion of young people in Indonesia and their role in development programmes.

 

Deputy of Population Management of BKKBN, Dr. Wendy Hartanto bang the gong in launching of State World Population Report 2013 in Yogyakarta, 8 November 2013.

 

The SWOP report shows that girls who remain in school longer are less likely to become pregnant. Education prepares girls for future jobs and livelihoods, raises their self-esteem and status, and gives them more say in decisions affecting their lives. Education also reduces the likelihood of child marriage and delays childbearing, eventually leading to healthier birth outcomes. Reducing adolescent pregnancy can be achieved by ensuring girls continue their education, understand their rights and are empowered to make choices about their lives.

 

Expert Group Meeting

Following the launch of the SWOP report, UNFPA, BKKBN and PKBI in collaboration with the Center for Population and Policy Studies, Gadjah Mada University (PSKK-UGM) conducted the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Socio-Cultural Determinants and Impact of Adolescent Pregnancy in Indonesia.

 

Mr. Ferraris of UNFPA recognised the important role of academics research who provide policy-makers, development agencies and civil society with the data and evidence needed to make effective and targeted interventions and advocacy campaigns.

 

The goal of the EGM was to provide an opportunity for dialogue between academic and policy makers on the important issue of adolescent pregnancy.

 

Expert group Meeting on Socio-cultural determinants and impacts of adolescent pregnancy in Yogyakarta

 

The EGM was moderated by Dr. Anna Marie Wattie, MA (PSKK-UGM) and the following four studies were presented:

• Adolescent Pregnancy in Indonesia by Dr. Iwu Dwisetyani Utomo and Dr. Arianne Utomo, Fellow - HDR Convenor, Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute

• Abortion Hospitalization among Young Women aged 15-24 years in Yogyakarta Province by Riznawaty Imma Aryanty, M.Sc.

• Situational Analysis on Early Marriage in Indonesia by Agus Joko Pitoyo, S.Si, MA - PSKK UGM

• Expression of Self Identity and Self Desire through Mobile Phones: a case of college students in Yogyakarta by Dewi Haryani Susilastuti, Ph.D - PSKK UGM

 

Anggraini Sari Astuti and Rizky Ashar M. from UNFPA’s Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) presented a Youth Statement before the question and after session of the meeting.

 

Youth Jamboree

Over 500 young people and high school students from around the Special Region of Yogyakarta attended the Youth Jamboree held in the centre of Yogyakarta on 10 November 2013.

 

The Royal Highness of Yogyakarta, GKR Pembayun (second from front left) and hundreds of teenagers doing a flash mob at the Youth Jamboree in Yogyakarta

 

Four sessions were held on the topics of HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender, and Puberty, as well as games on networking and interpersonal communications. The participants engaged actively in the discussions of sensitive issues, which were led by young people, for young people.

 

The participants also attended a movie screening and panel discussion on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. The discussion moderated by YAP. The speakers at the discussion were Dr. Nurlan Silitonga from Angsamerah, Dr. Riska Novriana, a young doctor from Yogyakarta, and Heru, the vocalist of the popular band “Shaggydog”.

 

The discussion included information on how to prevent adolescent pregnancy by providing information, knowledge and skills as well as focusing on the empowerment of young women.

 

The event concluded with an afternoon and evening session filled with music and cultural performances, including “Shaggydog”, appearing as the main performer in the evening.

 

Youth Photography Competition & Exhibition

In the lead up to the launch of the SWOP report UNFPA conducted a Youth Photo Competition & Exhibition entitled “Capture the Future”. The competition provided a channel for young people in Indonesia to share their ideas on the issue of girls’ empowerment.

(Link to Youth Photo Competition Article)

Tags: reproductive health