Symposium on Adolescent and Youth Health discusses commitments for the new decade

August 9, 2010 - "Commitments for the next decade." That is the theme of the first symposium of Adolescent and Youth Health, conducted on August 9 and10, in Brasilia. Organized by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) in Brazil, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Brazil and the Southern Cone, the symposium aims to deepen the debate on public policies of prevention, treatment and comprehensive health care of adolescents and youth, focusing on the role they have in the process of policy making.

During the opening of the symposium, the UNODC representative for Brazil and Southern Cone, Bo Mathiasen, stressed the importance of discussing the role of youth in the field of health. "It is of fundamental importance in a time like this to guarantee  young people access to quality information, to promote decision-making autonomy, health services, effective participation and a Human Rights approach with the prospect of working stigma and prejudice ", he said.

During the two-day symposium experts will discuss subjects like public policy and national guidelines for comprehensive health care for adolescents and youth and the role they have in the promotion, protection and restoration of health and the importance of promoting continuous learning.

In total, round-table discussions will be promoted on themes like promotion and prevention in sexual and reproductive health, solidarity and violence prevention, youth participation in health, alcohol and other drugs, pregnancy during adolescence and youth, work and health.

Issues like these were presented in the Plan of Action for Adolescent Health and Youth, adopted during the 49th meeting of the Council Director of PAHO. The plan is based on the targets under the Millennium Development Goals and will guide the development of national health plans, either current and/or future, targeted to teens and young adults between 2010 and 2018. Mais informações

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