National Adolescent Development Policy Framework highlights the Missing links between Childhood and Youth

National Adolescent Development Policy Framework (NADPF) was endorsed here in Islamabad during the second working group meeting organized jointly by World Population Foundation (WPF), Pakistan and Plan on 30 May, 2009. The endorsement came from participants belonging to civil society organizations, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Population Welfare, UN agencies and adolescents.

The policy framework shared at the meeting primarily focuses on the themes of Adolescents and Child rights; Adolescents and Health; Adolescents and Education; their livelihood prospects; Adolescents in Crisis as well as strategies for implementation and drafting appropriate legislation. These broader themes have further been analyzed from the perspective of their current status, the issues involved and existing policies and programmes.

This document will serve as a comprehensive outline for policy makers to build an adolescent-focused policy upon – one that will ensure the protection of their rights and encourage their development and participation in all walks of life.

As a way forward, provincial consultations with NGOs, government departments and adolescents will be initiated to ensure that the first draft of the policy framework is comprehensive and all encompassing. The provincial consultations will also serve to further identify the distinctive issues of the rural adolescents. Once complete, advocacy with the Federal Government will be started to ensure that a new policy is put into place for adolescents.