In an attempt to stimulate contemporary debate on emerging population issues of Nepal, the population division of Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) organized a debate titled “Investing in Youth: Are we doing enough?” on September 26.

The hall of Center for Constitutional Dialogue listened intensely as Sushil JB Rana, secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs, presented a paper on the National Youth Policy 2010.


Rana during whose tenure the policy was drafted as the then secretary of Ministry of Youth and Sports highlighted the issue and status of the youth of Nepal.

However, he was quick to dismiss the age old debate about the age bar concerning the definition of youth in Nepal.

Dr Rajendra Bhadra, the country director of Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization affiliated to the John Hopkins University, USA, also presented a paper titled “Addressing the Special Health Needs and Rights of Young People.”

He focused on the need for proper space for sexual reproductive health in formal education in Nepal.

He was of the opinion that teachers should be fully aware of the issue so that they can help the youth understand the changes their body go through as they grow up.

These two issues were openly and widely debated by the participants who comprised of representatives of the National Planning Commission, Ministry of Education, Family Planning Association of Nepal along with representatives of various youth wings of political parties, donor committee, youth activists and students.

The second edition of a series of five debates, the program is jointly organized by Association of Youth Organization (AYON) and supported by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

source:republica, 27 Sept 2011