(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 10, 2002 ) The United Nations is meeting in Special Session to review progress made in the 12 years since the 1990 World Summit for Children set a series of far-reaching goals that improve reproductive health services for adolescents and improve child and maternal health. Adolescence is increasingly seen as a critical period in shaping a child's future, with important implications for girls -- not only for their own health and development, but also for the children they will have later in life.

Approximately 50 percent of the world's population is under the age of 25 - at or soon reaching their childbearing years. Adolescents, more than other age groups, require access to quality reproductive health services, education and employment opportunities so they are better equipped to make decisions about their lives.

Of the 260 million women aged 15 to 19 worldwide, about 11 percent (29 million) lack access to effective contraceptive protection. Although rates of childbearing among women under 20 are declining, approximately 15 million young women from ages 15 to 19 give birth every year. The United States has the highest levels of adolescent childbearing among developed countries - nearly three times the level of France, and nine times as high as Japan.

Pregnancy related complications are the leading cause of death among teenage women and early sexual activity also places youths at risk for sexually transmitted diseases. New HIV infections are at a rate of 11 per minute and over half of those infected are young people below the age of 24. The infection rates among young women are higher than among young men.

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Produced for David & Lucille Packard Foundation

Contacts:

William Ryan, UN Population Fund
212/297-5279

Abubakar Dungas, UN Population Fund
212/297-5031
www.PLANetWIRE.org

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