Safeguarding a Future of Promise Standing at the brink of a future filled with possibility, on the verge of maturity, young women and young men encounter the risks, responsibilities and opportunities of adulthood			Empower Girls to Delay Pregnancy until Physical and Emotional Maturity Childbearing is much more dangerous for women under 18 than for fully grown adults–and for their children, too, who are more likely to fall sick or die in infancy.
			Prepare Boys and Young Men to Be Responsible Fathers and Friends Both Melissa and Alonzo are doing their best to cope as sexual beings. They know that adolescence often means shame and pregnancy for girls, while boys are expected to focus on prowess and pride in proving manhood.			Encourage Adults–Especially Parents–to Listen and Respond to Young People Concerned adults–often an aunt, older cousin or trusted teacher–can be among the most important sources of information and guidance for adolescents.
			Help Young People Avoid Risks and Hardships Unhealthy dangers are many: sexual abuse, violence, exploitation, abduction, rape, incest, female genital mutilation, trafficking, abandonment and prostitution. What makes it so hard for young people to fight these threats to physical and mental health? The acts against them are committed by adults.			Provide Education with Accurate and Timely Information But the antidote to ignorance–information and education–is often denied to adolescents. The number of adolescents without reproductive health information of any kind is estimated at over 100 million.