La Jornada: Angelica Enciso L.
Young people lack comprehensive policies for their well-being. They are not recognized as having rights. During the last two presidential administrations, no reproductive health campaigns were aimed at them, and 25 percent live in households with food insecurity.
These are some of the findings in a study conducted by the Idea Foundation, with support from the Mexican Youth Institute, whose head has not yet been appointed, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The report Policies and Programs for Youth Development presented by Marco Antonio López from the Idea Foundation, finds that the total population aged 12 to 29 years of age is 35.8 million, of which 21 per cent, or 7.56 million, neither study nor work [so-called 'NiNis'], but of these, three out of four are women involved at home.
There are 14.6 million young people available to carry out an economic activity, and only 32 percent of those working have social security [i.e., working in the formal economy, with benefits]. He warned that there are no specific housing policies aimed at this sector of the population, and three out of four young people said they were discriminated against for their physical appearance or manner of dressing. In presenting the report, he added that although the supply of contraceptives has increased, between 2001 and 2010,
"campaigns related to family planning and contraceptive use were conspicuously absent in the past governments."
He added that there is also a great disparity in access to contraceptives. Chiapas is the state with the greatest unmet demand for contraceptives, with 22 percent, and Nuevo León is the state with the lowest [unmet] demand.
He also reported that the prevalence of AIDS among young people has increased. It is now estimated that 68 percent of cumulative cases and more than 97 percent of the cases detected in 2011 in the population aged 10 to 29 years old, were transmitted sexually. He noted that 36.4 percent of young people have no access to social security [i.e., health, pension benefits; that is, they are working in the informal economy].
He also reported that the prevalence of AIDS among young people has increased. It is now estimated that 68 percent of cumulative cases and more than 97 percent of the cases detected in 2011 in the population aged 10 to 29 years old, were transmitted sexually. He noted that 36.4 percent of young people have no access to social security [i.e., health, pension benefits; that is, they are working in the informal economy].
As for education, he said that he found that in the transition from middle to high school is when most students drop out. But young people also do not finish high school:
"This indicates that education is not relevant for them."Meanwhile, Genaro Lozano, from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, considered the effect of the incorporation of the IMJUVE [Mexico Institute for Youth] into the Secretariat of Social Development:
"We must see if it strengthens or weakens the IMJUVE."In his speech, Alfonso Sandoval, deputy representative of UNFPA, said that globally there are about 75 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who cannot find employment. Furthermore, although increasingly young people have received information about preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases,
"more than 40 percent of new HIV infections occur among adolescents and youth."