PRESS BRIEFING BY UNICEF

Economic growth did not necessarily translate into better lives for young people in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Baltics, correspondents at Headquarters were told this afternoon by a panel launching The Social Monitor, a new, annual report on conditions for youth in the region.

The report, published by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), looked at five indicators of youth well-being:  income, population, health, education and protection.  According to Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the agency, it grew out of 10 years of UNICEF's experience following social trends of countries in transition through its Innocenti Research Centre in Florence.  Succeeding reports would follow the same indicators.

Present along with Ms. Bellamy at today's launch were Philip O'Brien, UNICEF's Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltics; and Gaspar Fajth, the primary author of the report.

Ms. Bellamy said that, overall, the first report presented a mixed picture of the region.  There was a generally positive economic climate, with some economic growth, democratization and less conflict since 1998.  There had been some reduction in child poverty in the years 1999 and 2000, except in Russia, and some social spending, but it was still very low in most of the countries studied.  The institutionalization of children was still a significant problem, although it had improved somewhat in Romania, where it had previously reached tragic proportions. 

Educational standards were still high throughout the region, she said, especially in math and science.  Such standards had the best chance of being maintained in countries with the best economic climates.  However, there was a general funding crisis, with severe deterioration of facilities, so education was at great risk.

HIV/AIDS, however, loomed as the major threat to young people, according to the panel.  Ms. Bellamy said that there had been a 13-fold increase in cases in the region since 1996.  By the end of 2001, there were 250,000 registered and 1 million estimated cases.  The epidemic was dramatically affecting young people, with 80 per cent of new cases found in those under the age of 29. 

In Russia, she said, infection was still largely due to drug use, but in Ukraine and Belarus, sexual transmission accounted for a third of new cases.  Women with low levels of education were found to be at particularly great risk.

In response to questions posed by correspondents, the panel ascribed the rapid growth of HIV/AIDS infection in the region largely to drug use, other lifestyle factors and, in particular, a lack of access to information.  Ms. Bellamy said that one third of teenagers in Central Asia had no idea of how to protect themselves.  The problem was exacerbated by discrimination and shame related to the disease.

The situation was not yet nearly as dire as that in sub-Saharan Africa, she said, but it was like the gathering of "The Perfect Storm":  all the factors were coming together for the crisis to grow geometrically.  Now, she said, was the time to really do something to avoid that.  Mr. O'Brien added that among those factors were high youth unemployment drop-out rates, along with the vast level of ignorance.

Asked why HIV/AIDS was more prevalent in some countries than others,

Mr. Fajth said that it might just be a matter of chance that the same combination of factors was present.  Other countries might suffer a greater outbreak next year.  Mr. O'Brien said there also might be reporting differences, as well as differing numbers of drug users.  In the Baltic States, Mr. Fajth pointed to changes in lifestyle as causing the increase in infection, while Lithuania had much less of an increase because of early government action on prevention.  Religion, as far as it affected behaviour, could also possibly account for the difference among infection rates in the region.

A correspondent asked whether there were any more encouraging developments in the five areas considered by the report, outside of the area of HIV/AIDS. Mr. Fajth replied that, alongside the slowing of the rise of child poverty, there was also an end to the staggering decrease in the birth rate, which had gone down by almost half in 10 years.  The end of that steep decline might be an indication that the worst years were over.  Life expectancy was improving in most countries other than Russia.

Mr. O'Brien added that current economic growth could eventually lead to more investment in the social sector.  Also of great significance, he said, was the eradication of polio in the region, which was a huge public health achievement.

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