HEALTHY YOUNG PEOPLE CRUCIAL FOR INDONESIA'S FUTURE by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 17, 2013 (Antara) - Joining the World Population Day that focused on "Adolescent Pregnancy", the Indonesian government organized  a seminar on "The Empowerment of Girls to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy" in Yogyakarta, on July 11.

         Indonesia has a huge number of young people and they could be a very important asset for the nation if they are guided properly, Chairman of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Fasli Jalal stated.

         On the other hand, he said, such a huge number of adolescents could become a burden for the country if they were not developed well or left to grow up in a negative way.

         The data of the national population census in 2010 showed the number of young people aged between 10 and 24 years old was around 64 million or 27.6 percent of Indonesia's total population.

         The younger generation must be prepared to become healthy people physically, mentally, and spiritually because they are important for the future of the nation, said Fasli Jalal.  
    Young people in Indonesia as well as other countries often face problems such as HIV/AIDS infection, drug addiction, violence, unwanted pregnancy, as well as illegal and unsafe abortion.

         In response to adolescence-related problems, the BKKBN has developed a program called Generasi Berencana (GenRe) literally meaning "A Generation with Plans" which focuses among other things on education on reproductive health of youth throughout Indonesia.

         "The public campaign on reproductive health will continuously be intensified because it is very important for the younger generation," the BKKBN chief  said in the seminar in Yogyakarta.

         By having good understanding of the reproductive health, the young people are expected to be able to prevent themselves from being involved in free sex or facing unwanted pregnancy, Jalal stated.

         Out-of-wedlock pregnancy could lead to illegal abortion which often threatens the young mother's life, he added.

         Indonesia's maternal mortality rate of 228 per 100,000 live births remains the highest in Southeast Asia, but the government hopes to reduce the rate to 102 per 100,000 by the year 2015 in order to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

         The number of abortions in the country increased by 15 percent annually, according to the Jakarta Post daily in its February 2013 article on abortion.
    The BKKBN estimated there were 2.4 million abortions in Indonesia in 2012, about 800,000 of those women were teenagers, the English daily wrote.

         Quoting a research done between 2008 and 2011 at 11 health clinics by the Indonesia Family Planning Association (PKBI), the newspaper reported that only 16 percent of the women receiving abortions were unmarried, while the  bigger chunk, 83 percent, were married.

         In line with Indonesia's Law No. 23/2002 on child protection, those performing illegal abortions could face a maximum punishment of 15 years' imprisonment.

         Another regulation, Law No. 36/2009 on health also forbids abortion and says perpetrators will receive a maximum punishment of 10 years' imprisonment or a Rp 1 billion fine.

         However, the health law allows abortions for certain cases like pregnancy caused by rape or an unhealthy pregnancy.

         According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), about 16 million girls under age 18 give birth each year globally. Another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions.

         The vast majority - 90 per cent - of the pregnant adolescents in the developing world are married. But for far too many of these girls, pregnancy has little to do with informed choice. Often it is a consequence of discrimination, rights violations (including child marriage), inadequate education or sexual coercion.

         "The facts speak for themselves, around 16 million girls between the ages of 16 to 19 give birth a year, nine out of 10 are already married," UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin said in his statement marking the World Population Day.

         The world today has over 600 million girls, and more than 500 million of them in developing countries. They are shaping humanity's present and future.

         The opportunities and choices girls have during adolescence will enable them to begin adulthood as empowered and active citizens, UNFPA said.

         With the right skills and opportunities, they can invest in themselves, in their families and their communities. However, pregnancy jeopardizes the rights, health, education and potential of far too many adolescent girls, robbing them of a better future.

         The UNFPA has considered adolescent pregnancy as a health issue: the youngest mothers face a heightened risk of maternal complications, death and disability, including obstetric fistula. Their children face higher risks as well.

         Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his statement on the World Population Day called for resources for the education, health and well-being of adolescent girls and urged global attention to adolescent pregnancy.

         Ban said that complications from pregnancy and childbirth can cause grave disabilities, and are the leading cause of death for these vulnerable young women.

         "To address these problems, we must get girls into primary school and enable them to receive a good education through their adolescence," he said.

         The United Nations has designated July 11 as the World Population Day since 1989 to draw global attention to the high population growth rate after the world's population reached five billion. ***4***
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(T.F001/A/F. Assegaf/Bustanuddin) 17-07-2013 15:29:59