With over 200 million youths around the world living in poverty, 130 million illiterate, 88 million unemployed, and 10 million living with HIV/AIDS, today's youth are dealing with serious challenges, a UN report released on Tuesday said.

According to the World Youth Report 2005, published by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the UN Secretariat, estimates based on available poverty data from 2002 indicate that some 209 million young people, or 18 per cent of the worlds youths, currently live on less than US$1 per day, and 515 million live on less than US$2 per day.

Although the current generation of youths is the best educated so far, 113 million children are not in school and 130 million young people are illiterate, the report said.

In spite of the progress achieved in education, global youth unemployment has increased to a record high of 88 million, the report disclosed.

Rates of unemployment among young people are highest in West Asia, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and there is growing pressure on young people to compete in an increasingly globalized labour market, it added.

HIV/AIDS primary cause of death

On the health issue, the report found globally, young people are reaching adolescence earlier and marrying later, with premarital sexual behaviour appearing to be increasing.

Although early pregnancy has declined in many countries, it is still a major concern worldwide, and HIV/AIDS is the primary cause of mortality among youths, followed by violence and injuries, it said.

In accordance with the grim statistics of the 192-page report, 10 million young people, most of who live in Africa and Asia, are currently living with HIV/AIDS.

The epidemic has had a devastating impact on the sexual and reproductive health of young people, as they are particularly vulnerable to infection, the report said.

However, amid the grim picture portrayed in the report, there are positive signs. It pointed out that the number of children completing primary school education has continued to increase since 1995, and four out of five young people in the eligible age group are now in secondary school.

Additionally, tertiary enrolment has risen, and it is estimated that some 100 million youths are presently engaged in university-level studies worldwide, the report noted.

The report said the statistics and trends point to one key message investments in young people need to be increased to implement the 1995 World Programme of Action for Youth and to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include cutting extreme poverty by half, ensuring universal primary education, and stemming the AIDS pandemic, all by 2015.

The report was published just two days ahead of a daylong General Assembly session devoted to the issue of youths. Young delegates from two-dozen countries and 300 youth organizations have registered to attend the meeting.

Source: China Daily