NATIONAL YOUTH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FORUM HELD IN TBILISI
Mzia Kupunia

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Wednesday, July 8

A National Youth Reproductive Health Forum, hosted by the EU/UNFPA
co-funded project Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in the
South Caucasus (RHIYC) and the Committee of Healthcare and Social
Issues of the Parliament of Georgia, was held in the Hotel Sympatia on
July 7. According to project officials, the National Youth RH Forum,
which is held annually, gives all stakeholders (representatives of the
legislative and executive branches, non-Governmental organisations,
independent experts, medical professionals and youth) the opportunity
to meet and discuss the existing situation, policy and strategies,
to elaborate country visions and agree on future strategies to
address challenges in the field of youth sexual and reproductive
health and rights. The main topics of the forum were the role and
plans of the United Nations Population Fund in implementing the
Millennium Development goals in Georgia, the successes, challenges
and lessons learnt from the RHIYC project in Georgia, the adolescents
reproductive health survey, the national concept on harmonious and
healthy education, project sustainability, priorities and partnership
aspects and the concept of youth reproductive health and rights in
Georgia’s legal environment, appropriate policy and objectives.

Vice Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Gigi Tsereteli, who also
attended the Forum, said "A lot has been already done by the project,
but some things still remain to be completed, which need solid
funds. Despite the efforts of many Governmental and non-Governmental
organisations, the indicators in this field remain concerning. Now
it is up to the Government to pay attention to implementing specific
projects. As for the South Caucasus Initiative, I think the Government
institutions have been very effective; we have tried to spread our
enthusiasm to local government bodies." "The European Commission is
very committed to health issues and reproductive health issues in
particular. Reproductive health issues have been discussed many times
and a lot of different events have been organised over the 3 years of
the project to discuss different issues and raise awareness," Martin
Klaucke, head of the Operations Section at the European Commission
Delegation to Georgia, said. Tamar Khomasuridze, the Head of the
UNFPA Georgia Country Office stressed the necessity of holding a
forum on reproductive health issues. "The subject of our forum is
very important as it concerns youth health, and therefore the future
of the country. If it were not for the funding of the European Union,
the implementation of this huge project in three countries Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan, would have been impossible," she said.