• Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam, Secretary of the Central Youth Union, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Youth of Viet Nam;
• Representatives from the project implementing partners of the Central Youth Union;
• Representatives from Ministries and partners; 
• All young people participating in the event;
• UNFPA colleagues and the media; 

Today we launch our new collaborative project to support young people across Viet Nam with sexual and reproductive health information and services, and preparations for population ageing. With a total budget of more than 1 million USD until the end of 2026, this shared project contributes to the national strategy on youth development for the period of 2021-2030. 

When I arrived in Viet Nam on this posting a year ago, I was struck by the vibrancy and energy of its youthful population. According to the 2019 Population and Housing Census, Viet Nam currently has its highest proportion of young people - 21% aged 10-24, creating the potential for a demographic dividend to accelerate socio-economic growth. This demographic window of opportunity is projected to last until 2041, presenting Viet Nam with a unique opportunity to advance sustainable development. 

Another facet of Viet Nam’s demographic shift is that it is rapidly ageing. Population ageing is a success of development but it’s also something that we all need to prepare for.

Despite Viet Nam’s impressive socio-economic gains over the last decade, there remains inequities and gaps in sexual and reproductive health, and participation in policy development amongst adolescents and young people, particularly among marginalised youth. 

Findings from the survey measuring Viet Nam SDG indicators on Children and Women indicate disparities between ethnic minorities in the adolescent birth rate such as 28 live births per 1,000 adolescents within the Kinh ethnic group yes 210 in the Mong ethnic group, that’s 7 and a half times higher than the majority group. The same survey shows that barely 18% of young women aged 15-19 made their own informed decisions regarding sexual intercourse and contraceptive use compared with 68% of women aged 35-39 years. And whilst contraceptive use has increased nationally the unmet need for modern contraceptives among unmarried people is 4 times higher than that of married people. 

Recognizing youth as an important force in achieving the SDGs, UNFPA’s new project in support of the Central Youth Union has been designed to champion youth development in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and preparation for population ageing. 

This project aims to empower young people, particularly those from minoritised and marginalised groups to improve sexual and reproductive health and positive responses to population ageing thereby actively contributing to the National Strategy on Youth Development and achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

By proposing innovative interventions to support sexual and reproductive health, prevent gender-based violence, and encourage youth participation we hope to achieve transformative outcomes, particularly in eliminating preventable maternal deaths, preparing young people to respond to population ageing, and providing sexual and reproductive health services for young people, especially ethnic minorities, those living with HIV/AIDS, migrant workers, LGBTQI+ people and people with disabilities.

I would like to thank the Central Youth Union, particularly the Secretary of the Central Youth Union, for such strong leadership in putting adolescents and youth high on the national agenda. My thanks also go to our co-implementing partners, including the Central Center for Youth and Adolescents of the Central Youth Union; the International Relations Department of the Central Youth Union; The National Committee for Vietnamese Youth; Youth Research Institute; and the Vietnamese Youth Academy for their ongoing efforts and commitment to make this new project a success. 

I look forward to working closely with all of you to champion the needs and rights of young Vietnamese people and to achieve the SDGs. Together, let us unlock Viet Nam’s full potential, leaving no one behind and ensuring a prosperous and equitable future for all.

Thank you./.