Bangkok Post - July 13, 2006
Anjira Assavanonda

Thoraya Obaid, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, said youngsters are threatened by poverty, illiteracy, the risk of pregnancy and childbirth, and HIV/Aids.

"More than 500 million people aged 15 to 24 live on less than $2 [76 baht] per day; 96 million young women in developing countries do not know how to read or write; and 14 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 become mothers every year. Every day, 6,000 young people are newly infected with HIV," she said during a press conference to mark World Population Day.

In Thailand, a youth forum entitled "Being Young is Tough" was held yesterday by Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health to mark the event.

Youth representatives from many parts of the country were invited to share their views on the unique challenges they are facing.

Athikhom Dukhum from Chiang Rai talked about the importance of sex education for young people.

He said sex is a taboo subject in northern culture and young people can't raise the issue with their parents when they encounter sex-related problems. Instead, they have to turn to their friends.

"The lack of knowledge and life skills could make things worse. Some people have contracted HIV/Aids, while some had unwanted pregnancies and ended up having an illegal abortion," said Mr Athikhom.

Kakang Phanaamonchai, a Hmong girl from Chiang Mai, said she wanted better education for ethnic minority women to ensure gender equality in their communities.

Rossanee Gareeuma from Yala spoke about the conflicts and differences that are threatening her community's livelihood.

"The sound of bombs and guns has been common in my life. I don't know why this has happened. Buddhists and Muslims used to be friends. We spoke the same language and could even read each other's religious books," she said.

She said she hoped the southern violence ends before the young generation are all gone, as it seems a large number of people in this group have been arrested.

Sufanwee Samaae, from Narathiwat, said the declining economy resulting from the southern strife had forced many of his friends to quit school, as their families could not afford the expenses.

Maratee Mustafakul from Bangkok's Klong Toey community, which is notorious for drug abuse, said drugs remain widespread in her community despite the government crackdown a few years ago.

"Several kinds of drugs are found in my community - methamphetamines, solvents and heroin. When walking around, I often find syringes on the ground," she said.

Ms Maratee said some youths from the area were discriminated against when they applied for jobs.

"Some companies turned down our job applications upon seeing that we're from Klong Toey. I want to ask them to stop being judgmental. There are good and bad people everywhere," she said

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