REPORT LAUNCH AND GLOBAL RESPONSE
Launch of the 2017 IAP Report
Monday, September 18, 2017 — United Nations Headquarters, New York
The Independent Accountability Panel (IAP) for Every Woman, Every Child, Every Adolescent officially launched its 2017 report, Transformative Accountability for Adolescents, calling for urgent and strategic investments in adolescents aged 10–19 to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
Adolescents, representing approximately 1.2 billion people globally, are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the report highlights that millions remain at risk due to insufficient attention to their health, rights and well-being.
Each year, approximately 1.2 million adolescents die from largely preventable causes, including violence, suicide, pregnancy-related complications, HIV/AIDS, road injuries and infectious diseases. The report emphasizes that cost-effective interventions exist and can generate significant health, social and economic benefits.
The IAP, an independent body mandated by the UN Secretary-General, assesses progress on the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030), focusing on accountability — who is responsible, to whom, and for what.
The launch event, co-hosted by the Governments of Denmark and South Africa in collaboration with PMNCH, brought together high-level representatives from governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia and the private sector.
EXPERT AND LEADERSHIP STATEMENTS
Dr. Carmen Barroso emphasized that adolescents’ health and rights remain neglected, with serious consequences for both individuals and global development. She stressed that smart policies and strategic investments are urgently needed.
Dr. Kul Chandra Gautam highlighted that adolescence is a critical period for lifelong health, noting that prevention at this stage is both essential and cost-effective.
Minister Jeff Radebe (South Africa) described accountability as a human rights imperative, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the “broken promises” affecting adolescents globally.
Karen Ellemann (Denmark) underlined that ensuring adolescent health is not optional but a fundamental obligation, and that the report provides practical tools for translating commitments into action.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO) called this a “never-before moment for adolescent health”, stressing the need for coordinated global action.
Dr. Denis Mukwege highlighted that for many adolescents, rights exist only on paper, and that leadership can make a decisive difference even in resource-constrained settings.
Graça Machel emphasized that accountability is a powerful innovation for accelerating progress and ensuring commitments are fulfilled.
Civil society representatives, including youth and advocacy groups, stressed the importance of breaking barriers, strengthening participation and ensuring adolescents’ voices are heard.
KEY MESSAGES FROM STAKEHOLDERS
Stakeholders broadly agreed that:
- Accountability must be strengthened across all sectors
- Adolescents must be central to policy and investment decisions
- Data, transparency and participation are essential
- Strong leadership and governance are critical to achieving results
There was also recognition that without structural reforms and sustained commitment, progress will remain limited.
ARCHIVE NOTE
This section presents archived content from the official 2017 IAP report launch and related communications. It is included to provide context, stakeholder perspectives and supporting materials relevant to the report.