When it comes to youth rights, youth engagement is a must. By taking concern on this theme, SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION TOWN HALL ON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT was arranged by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health of Indonesia on 20-21 March in Jakarta, Indonesia. S M Shaikat, Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh, Program Officer of SERAC-Bangladesh, Tasnia Ahmed and Runia Runu took part in this event as Bangladesh representatives. The event was focused on supporting young people’s leadership, building skills, and knowledge, accessing to adolescent and youth health rights.
As Indonesia is a traditional and cultural based country, they started the pre-youth meeting with their traditional dance and music. They brought out their culture in front of 200 youth foreign delegates that was wonderful. The Head of Committee from the Ministry of Health- Wisnu Trianggono inaugurated the event. Ministry of Health Indonesia, prof. Dr. dr. Nila Moeloek Sp.M(K) mentioned her remarks speech and talked about adolescent and youth rights.
Mr. S M Shaikat, Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh along with Tasnia Ahmed, Program Officer of SERAC-Bangladesh
After taking a group photo, Neena Raina, WHO-SEARO and Bhavya DN, Youth representative discussed the regional situation of young people’s health and wellbeing, where youth representatives of different countries tried to convince the health ministry to allocate budget and access to youth health services as the part of the group activities. Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh, S M Shaikat won the elevator speaking competition on youth health.
Beside this, Anshu Mohan, PMNCH; Bonita Sharma, Youth representative and Rajesh Mehta, Regional Adviser- Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health discussed young people’s health priority and needs, a global consensus statement on meaningful youth engagement. Promoting youth-led accountability and so on. Program Officer of SERAC-Bangladesh, Tasnia Ahmed discussed the current situation of South East Asian Region and improving school-based adolescent health rights.
On 21st March, a consultation was arranged with 1000 youth delegates, health experts and key persons to focus on youth rights and took commitment from the Ministry of Health to ensure adolescent and youth rights for recognizing the availability of health services specially sexual and reproductive health rights, contribute to gender equality, environmental sustainability, economic growth, community development and global peace, as countries progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, make sure to inclusive and meaningful engagement of young people in policy and decision-making process which is crucial for national development.
