Overview of adolescent life.

Today adolescents have diverse experiences given the different political social cultural and economic realities they face in our communities. Yet there is a similar vision in everyones eyes to see a bright and shining future. This hope is bolstered by the Millennium Development Goals agreed to by our leaders in the year 2000 to reduce extreme poverty and hunger slow the spread of HIV/AIDS reduce maternal and child mortality ensure universal primary education and improve sustainable development by 2015. Within the framework of human rights established and accepted by the global community certain rights are particularly relevant to adolescents and the opportunities and risks they face. These include gender equality and the right to education and health including reproductive and sexual health information and services appropriate to their age capacities and circumstances. (excerpt)