Y-PEERs at UNFPA Eastern Europe & Central Asia Regional Planning Meeting

23-24^th February, 2010 Almaty, Kazakhstan - UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office held its regional planning meeting which brought together country, regional and sub-regional office teams and other UNFPA stakeholders and partners from UN sister agencies, civil society, government, and parliamentarians. The meeting served as an opportunity for sharing analyses of regional trends, to discuss priorities and strategies to move the ICPD agenda forward, and to agree on the way ahead of EECARO work and interventions in the following year. Our Y-PEER members, Aysel Asgarova, Y-PEER Focal Point Azerbaijan, Mihai  Diaconiuc, Y-PEER Focal Point-in-Charge Romania and Aida Darzhanova, Y-PEER Focal Point Kazakhstan, had the honor to represent the Y-PEER global network at this high-level meeting.

The meeting was opened by Mrs. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director who described regional achievements in regards to ICPD Program of Action, MDGs and stressed upon improving maternal health and ensuring universal access to reproductive health, especially for young people. Mrs. Mane also underlined the importance of involving young people in the upcoming programmes of UNFPA.   Thus, the floor was given to Y-PEER members. While Aida and Mihai shared with everybody about Y-PEER success stories in their home countries, Aysel spoke about Y-PEER activities at the global level. 

Speaking of Y-PEER participation during World AIDS conference 2009 in Moscow, EECARO Director Ms. Thea Fierens recognized the impressive contribution of Y-PEER to the conference and said that everybody, including many famous Russian public figures, were amazed by the job Y-PEER does worldwide. 

The meeting consisted of different panel discussions, work groups covering specific regional issues and 3 S.S.S (Substance, Strategies, and Support) was cross cutting within all of them. Y-PEER members actively participated in all panels representing the voice for young people and giving valuable suggestions to planning of regional projects.

Several times during the meeting Y-PEER members were given the floor. Aida said, “I, as a young person, fully support the idea of results-based management of youth programmes – as Mrs. Mane said yesterday, 2010 should be the year of results. This is very important”.  Aysel  thanked UNFPA for giving young people an opportunity to participate in all sessions and discussions along with adults which can serve as a very good example of youth participation in decision-making for other organizations too.

The slogan “ Being there makes you part of it “ probably describes the best emotions and feelings of Y-PEER representatives who were given this unique and unforgettable opportunity to be part of decisions which will shape Eastern Europe and Central Asia region in the upcoming years.  What is also important to remember is that Y-PEER is a priority for this year and UNFPA will keep supporting network.

Aida, Mihai and Aysel