UNFPA strategy on Adolescents and Youth: Towards realizing the full potential of adolescents and youth

Today’s adolescents and youth are 1.8 billion strong and form a quarter of the world’s population. They are shaping social and economic development, challenging social norms and values, and building the foundation of the world’s future. While notable progress has been made, many young people – especially adolescent girls – are denied the investments and opportunities that they require to realize their full potential. For millions of young people around the world, puberty – the biological onset of adolescence – brings not only changes to their bodies but also new vulnerabilities to human rights abuses, particularly in the arenas of sexuality, marriage and child bearing.