24 May 1984

Meeting 19

Promotion of opportunities for young women

The Economic and Social Council,

Recognizing that 1985 is the culminating year of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace,

Recognizing also that 1985 has been designated International Youth Year:

Participation, Development, Peace,

Recognizing further that 1985 presents an opportunity to focus on the roles of young women and their participation in all activities, such as festivals, meetings, and other international youth forums to mark the International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace,

Bearing in mind that young women were singled out for priority attention by the World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, particularly in its resolution 27,

Affirming that youth is the period of growth, development and apprenticeship for the adult roles of work, citizenship and parenthood, from which all of society will benefit,

Affirming also that youth should be a period of discovery and joy in living,

Considering that young women who become mothers too early are not only deprived of their youth but are not prepared for the responsibilities of parenthood and are subject to a higher health risk,

Recognizing that, while girls and young women are found in societies at all levels of development, the world is in a period of technological revolution affecting all and women must therefore be equal partners with men in shaping and benefiting from that revolution,

Stressing that those young women who lack sufficient nutrition, education, appropriate training and health are ill prepared for their adult roles in this changing world and are thus vulnerable to economic, social and sexual exploitation,

1. Recommends that Member States should take appropriate steps to ensure that girls and young women are motivated to choose, and sufficiently trained to be chosen for, work at all levels and all the functions of a developing economy and society;

2. Recommends also that Member States should assist families to give equal support, guidance and encouragement to young women and men;

3. Recommends further that Member States should direct special assistance to girls and young women who are socially and economically disadvantaged;

4. Recommends that specialized agencies should undertake projects to promote global, regional and local action to accelerate the improvement in the education and training, employment and health status of girls and young women in accordance with their needs and with global, regional and local conditions;

5. Recommends also that specialized agencies, Member States and non-governmental organizations should undertake projects to develop cultural and sports activities aimed at promoting better international understanding and the equal right of young women and young men to fitness;

6. Recommends that special attention should be paid, in multilateral and bilateral co-operation programmes and projects, to the training and development of young women as managers of projects and as participants in articulating the development needs of youth;

7. Recommends that the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year and the Secretary-General should, in all their reports, take special account of the needs of young women in rural and urban areas and of the problems they face.