President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika was on Monday appointed Champion of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Youth Programmes.
The President was appointed by the United Nations through a delegation that was led by UN Under- Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Population Fund, Dr Babatunde Osotimehim after a closed door meeting at Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Briefing the media after the discussion’s, Babatunde said it pleased them to appoint the Malawi leader as the champion for the youth programmes due to his commitment of working with and for young people.
Babatunde commended the President for supporting UNFPA efforts in terms of youth programmes and pledged to make the initiative work.
“I am glad that we have the support of the President. He has committed to supporting the programme. I am very optimistic that he will help in transforming the lives of young people in Malawi and on an international level,” he said.
He emphasized that adolescents and youth are key to the development agenda of any country and that providing them with opportunities is essential for realization of their full potential.
Babatunde added in a note to the media. “In this context, the President will work to address the needs of the largest generation of youth,”
He described President Mutharika as a strong youth advocate and brings to this position extensive knowledge of and commitment to working on youth issues at the local, regional and international level.
“We will work with the President to empower the young people.
Babatunde said there is need to invest in education and health, especially for adolescent girls, and to decrease maternal mortality and meet unmet need for family planning.
He said another critical part of improving women and children’s health is ensuring access to contraceptives and medical supplies.
“The challenges facing the youth today are so many. African adolescents and young people face a complex set of risks and vulnerabilities that impede their health, education and economic opportunities, and Malawian young people are no exception. In addition young people, especially girls, are subjected to sexual exploitation, unsafe abortion, harmful cultural practices and forced marriages, and many of them drop out of school.” he said.
He also emphasized “working with and for women and young people” as one of the five “generational opportunities” that are critical for change. He also underlined the importance of programmes promoting human rights, education and reproductive health.
Babatunde also said working with and for women and young people is central to the work of UNFPA and to their refocused and sharpened Strategic Plan.
Malawi h became one of the first countries in UNFPA’s East and Southern Africa Region (to launch the new Safeguarding Young People Programme, a regional initiative that aims at reviewing laws and policies that negatively affect young people.
The programme looks at the provision of comprehensive sexuality education, strengthening of youth networks, strengthening documentation of evidence and the provision of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning.
