Special Focus

Youth Issues Youth issues are central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Promoting the participation of youth in international discussions regarding their social and economic development is essential, as their experiences shed new light on a rapidly changing world of new technology and globalization. It is also important to understand the obstacles that prevent young people from reaching their full potential, such as engagement in child labor at an earlier age or a lack of access to secondary education and training. B-SPAN coverage of youth issues has included global dialogues on youth participation in Europe and Asia, as well as the perspectives of young Roma leaders who described the challenges of improving social, economic, and educational opportunities in their region. B-SPAN is pleased to present the following events on topics related to youth.

B-SPAN releases from this special focus are:

Poverty Alleviation Strategies for Vulnerable Groups: Perspectives from Young Roma Leaders 11/11/2003 Young Roma leaders discuss two planned initiatives, the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 and the Roma Education Fund as well as how to improve the living conditions and economic and social opportunities of Roma. Global Dialogue on Youth Inclusion with Mongolia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam 08/11/2002 In this videoconference, the challenges of including youth in development are discussed with participants from four Asian countries. Global Dialogue on Youth Inclusion with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe 8/26/2002 Case studies from Macedonia and South Africa on youth participation are presented as well as the how teenagers can help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. AIDSWEB: HIV/AIDS and ICT Project Update 5/15/2003 As part of this program, initiatives to meet the needs community HIV/AIDS educational and communication programs targeting youth were presented. Child Labor: The Role of Income Variability and Access to Credit in a Cross-Section of Countries 5/18/03 The presenters describe how credit constraints lead to child labor and time spent at early ages gaining labor market experience could be used more efficiently by increasing long-term human capital. Does Globalization Increase Child Labor 10/15/01 Researchers present a new theory that liberalized trade and access to world markets may diminish child labor by raising the standard of living in poor countries.