Assistance by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security to the Project "Human Security for the Adolescent: Empowerment and Protection against Violence, Early Pregnancy, Maternal Mortality and HIV/AIDS"

May 8, 2008

1. On the 2nd of May (Friday), the Government of Japan and the United Nations (UN) decided to extend assistance totalling 1,095,600 US dollars (approximately 123.80 million yen), through the Trust Fund for Human Security to a project entitled “Human Security for the Adolescent: Empowerment and Protection against Violence, Early Pregnancy, Maternal Mortality and HIV/AIDS” that will be implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) in the Republic of Bolivia.

2. In Bolivia high maternal mortality rate and domestic violence have become serious problem and early pregnancy of adolescent population increases the risk of infection to HIV/AIDS.

This project, focusing on adolescent population, aims to address these challenges by activities such as providing health services and education on sex and rights, and establishing network in targeted communities. Under this project following activities will be implemented.

-protecting adolescents, including pregnant women, through improvement of hospital and health clinics, improvement of social and health services and training of health worker.

-raising awareness of adolescents, teachers and NGOs on health, sex, HIV/AIDS and gender based violence

-promoting the development of public policy on Human Security for adolescents through their empowerment and social protection against violence, early pregnancy, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS

3. This project is expected to protect adolescents and empower them on sex and health and to contribute to comprehensively realise Human Security.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is also participating this project as an partner agency and further collaboration between Japanese bilateral assistance and the Trust Fund for Human Security is expected through this project.

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