The International Youth Day is marked on August 12. This year’s theme of the day is “Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward”. About 56% of the Moldovan migrants last year were young people, aged between 15 and 34, IPN reports.

In a communiqué, the Ministry of Youth and Sport says the main causes of youth migration are based on economic factors and include the absence of workplaces, low salaries and poverty.

According to UNFPA, the young people represent more than 10% of the over 214 million international migrants annually. Many young migrants face similar or more serious problems, including racism, xenophobia, discrimination and violation of human rights. The young women, in particular, face the risk of being sexually exploited and abused. Poverty, difficult and unsanitary living conditions and the need to find a decent job are among the causes that often make the young people migrate.

In October, the United Nations General Assembly will host the second High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. The United Nations Population Fund calls on the member states to take into consideration the youth migration, to act for promoting the rights of all the young migrants and to increase the development potential of youth migration.