National policies that pay attention to youth issues now will define the quality of life that young people of today will have as they enter adulthood and the working age phase of their lives.

This was the message conveyed by Klaus Beck, country representative of the United Nations Population Fund in the Philippines at the Youth Forum on SDGs and the 2016 Elections organized by YouthVote Philippines last April 30.

“The election has a crucial link to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). And it will especially impact on the future of you, young Filipinos,” Mr. Beck said. “A 10-year-old girl or boy of today will be 16 by the time the next administration ends, or 25 years old by the end of the SDGs in 2030. What would the life be of that young girl or boy by then? The answer lies with your next elected leaders.”

The SDGs, which were adopted by United Nations member countries in September last year, are aimed at putting an end to poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030.

“If the right policies are prioritized and put in place, you may well be on your way to enjoy a brighter future,” Mr. Beck said during the forum, which was attended by representatives from party-list groups and two senatorial candidates. Young people mobilized by the SDG Youth National Convergence (SYNC) and the Young Public Servants (YPS) had the chance to ask questions from the forum panel members.

The Philippines, which has more than 100 million people, is well-placed to benefit from its large population of 30 million young people aged 10 to 24 years old, according to UNFPA. But it emphasized that having a big young population alone is not enough.

“A large number of young people who have no access to quality education, who are besieged by high teen pregnancies and HIV, and who are unemployed or underemployed only perpetuate poverty,” Mr. Beck said.

To make the most of the big youth population, specific actions must be undertaken to empower young people to fulfill their potential. This includes investing in education, ensuring access to health care including unrestricted access to youth-friendly reproductive health services, and providing decent employment.

He challenged the Filipino youth voters to influence policy-making by telling lawmakers what they need and what they want.

“By doing that, you are encouraging them to pass laws that will work, laws that will contribute to youth development and, ultimately, laws that promote national development,” Mr. Beck said.