Adolescents in Emergencies The Case for Action

Defining Adolescence AGE? … for BOYS? … For GIRLS?

Gender Matters, Context Matters Social & Cultural Construct Defining Adolescence Gender Matters, Context Matters Social & Cultural Construct 10-19 Years

History in the Making, Right Now 260 Million 530 Million 1.2 Billion 1.7 Billion 2.1 Billion

History in the Making, Right Now 260 Million 530 Million 1.2 Billion Adolescents (10-19) make up 16% of the world’s population today | Youth in SSD = 20.6% 1.7 Billion 2.1 Billion Source: UNICEF | June 2016, update

Trends in the Making, Right Now Earlier / Younger / Less Later / Older / More Reaching Puberty Marrying Having Sex Source: UNFPA| SOWP 2014

Trends in the Making, Right Now Earlier / Younger / Less Later / Older / More Reaching Puberty Marrying Having Sex Source: UNFPA| SOWP 2014

Girls Face More Risks - Less access to resources and services - Less likely to remain in school, compared to boys - High burden of care - High rates of sexual violence - Physical and mental health - More likely to die during childbirth than complete secondary school (UNICEF 2016) Only about 10 percent of girls in South Sudan complete primary school, and the typical age of marriage in rural areas is rarely over 15. The South Sudanese government reported that in 2013, just 730 girls were in the last year of secondary school out of a total population over 12 million. Using various data from UNICEF, IMC, SS gov’t, SSD has the highest maternal mortality in the world, and based on the # of maternal deaths (4000 among 15-19 yr old girls), this is 6x higher than the # of girls who graduated secondary school.

Access to Services is Insufficient

10 – 14 15 – 19 20+0 + AGE GENDER Source:  Weiner, Adam. 2007. “Assessing equity of access in youth programs,” Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief no. 28. New York: Population Council.

What about boys? ― Burdened by pressures to provide and protect ― More vulnerable to harmful masculinities, aggressive survival & violence ― Pushed into formal and informal armed groups ― Risk of mental health problems associated with substance abuse ― Vulnerable to being pushed into risky work

Breakdown of social & cultural systems Exposure to violence & chaos Disruption of school and friendships Absence of role models Personal traumas, including loss of family members, loss of protection mechanisms Emergencies disrupt what is usually a time of life set aside for learning, for the development of skills and relationships, for exploration … Young people are keenly aware of the possibility that this loss will never be recovered. (Betancourt & Khan, 2008). Welcome and thank you

Food Shelter WASH Health Nutrition Education Livelihoods Safely Effectively Do No Harm Accountably

in the roles & responsibilities they assume Viewed as in the roles & responsibilities they assume Intersecting vulnerabilities Food Shelter WASH Health Nutrition Education Livelihoods Safely Effectively Do No Harm Accountably Unique protection risks, including exploitation, violence & harmful practices Why? Unique protection risks, particular when girls begin to menstruate Girls are vulnerable not only because of who they are, but also because of what they represent e.g., symbols of purity, defilement and conquest. Even commodities. Eg. Boko Haram

Health cluster/actors “safe spaces” for adolescent girls [targeted & tailored] Health cluster/actors Education cluster/actors Shelter cluster/actors WASH cluster/actors Livelihood & Early Recovery cluster/actors Food cluster/actors Protection cluster/actors

Adolescent Girls: NOT a homogenous group Body change knowledge/ Comprehensive SRH In school/ out of school Vocational or livelihoods skills/ Literacy & numeracy With/ without disabilities Living with 1 or more parents/ unaccompanied/ HHs Nutritional needs of pregnant or lactating girls Married/ parenting/ VYA Different girls; different needs

AGENCY & ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY TARGETED & TAILORED PROGRAMS DELAY MARRIAGE AGENCY & ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY Education MALNUTRITION TARGETED & TAILORED PROGRAMS