Latin America

4 Sep, 2013

UN Envoy on Youth Addresses Colombian Youth During Official Visit

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On 16 August 2013, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth addressed over 1,000 youth gathered in Colombia to discuss the role of young people in peace-building and celebrate the first National Youth Volunteering Award supported by the UNV. Addressing the young participants, on the occasion of Friday of Peacebuilding, Mr Ahmad Alhendawi said “Your generation […]

4 Sep, 2013

Building the leaders of tomorrow: preparing young women in Latin America and the Caribbean

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“For us, taking part in the ‘Young Women, Leadership and Governance’ Regional Forum is key. Being here means sharing our experiences of work and our agendas, which are no different from those of other women throughout the world,” says Tania Pariona, a 27-year-old indigenous activist from Peru and member of the Continental Network of Indigenous

3 Sep, 2013

Changes in Peru’s Penal Code will Enable More Young People to Access HIV Services

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The Constitutional Tribunal of Peru is amending the Article 173 in its penal code which for many years had criminalized consensual sexual activity among young people. Sentencing was particularly severe with adolescents facing up to 30 years in prison. Article 173 of the penal code was also preventing young people from accessing essential health and

29 Aug, 2013

In Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, a new online tool tackles violence against women and girls

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UN-Habitat studies show that women in urban areas are twice as likely as men to suffer some form of violence, especially in developing countries. Violence is a daily reality that disproportionately affects women and girls in the poorest districts of any city. Owing to their poverty, survivors among these populations have less access to support

25 Aug, 2013

UN Envoy on Youth Spends International Youth Day in Remote Villages

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The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Mr Ahmad Alhendawi, is working with colleagues in the UN to bring the organisation closer to youth and to respond to the needs of young people around the world. As Envoy, Mr Alhendawi travels the world to advocate with governments and non-government partners to work with and for young […]

25 Aug, 2013

In Venezuela, Music Provides Hope for Impoverished Youth”

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Nehyda Alas, a teacher and director of Venezuela’s Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra, believes that when children are exposed to music their behaviour improves. He should know. Alas has been teaching music education to at-risk youth from Caracas’ poor communities, where children and teens are highly vulnerable to being drawn into the violence and crime

25 Aug, 2013

Young Uruguayan women aim to boost their role in politics

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“Being a women and being in politics is unusual,” says Lorena Tejeira, 30, a young member of the National Party. “The time dedicated to the party, time that you spend in meeting after meeting, with your weekends devoted to activism – it’s incomprehensible for many of my friends and family. And it’s tough.” Lorena is