Banja Luka, 14 October 2022 - A thematic discussion "Healthy Lifestyles Education", that enables youth to protect and advocate for their health, well-being and dignity was held today in Banja Luka. 

The thematic discussions, organized by the UNFPA are aimed at highlighting the need for healthy lifestyles education at the institutional level in BiH, discussed by representatives of entity’s ministries of educations, health professionals, parents, teachers, representatives of the non-governmental sector as well as young people.

“The Federation Ministry of Education and Science is determined to integrate education on the youth health into formal education as a regular teaching- education process at the level of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with health experts, cantonal ministries of education, and pedagogical institutes, and with the support of the UNFPA.  This education will provide timely and necessary information essential for preserving the mental and physical health of young people, help them in their physical, intellectual and emotional maturation and making the right life choices", stated Nadija Bandić, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Education and Science of the Federation of BiH. 

“The goal of primary education in the Republika Srpska, defined by the Law on Primary Education in the Republika Srpska, among other things, is to encourage the holistic and harmonious development of students as per their abilities through the acquisition of functional knowledge in the process of being a life-long student. It is very important that students in primary schools are educated about healthy lifestyles.”, said Enea Hotić, Head of the department for elementary education in the Ministry of Education and Culture in the Government of Republika Srpska.

Healthy Lifestyles Education is paramount to advance SDGs in BiH. It is a precondition for exercising full bodily autonomy, which requires not only the right to make choices about one’s body but also the information to make these choices in a meaningful way. 

“This education is based on human rights principles, it advances gender equality and the rights and empowerment of young people and this is why UNFPA’s event in celebration of SDG week gave emphasis to the contribution to SDG 4 and Healthy Lifestyle education. UNFPA together with the ministries of education in both entities is working on the implementation of age appropriate Healthy lifestyle education that meet internationally agreed standards”, said John Kennedy Mosoti, UNFPA Representative in BiH.

The conclusions of the thematic discussions will be used for harmonizing Healthy Lifestyles Education with the needs of school-going students in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH.

Note to the editors:
About the SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
SDG Week in BIH is the UNs instrument to support the SDG Council in BIH in raising awareness and engaging key audiences in discussions over new trends leading to implementation of Agenda 2030 in BIH.   In order to make the world a better place to live, which is one of the priority tasks of the 2030 Agenda, it is important to harmonize local policies with the Sustainable Development Goals through the partnership of local communities and their institutional partners