Policies and programmes involving youth A/RES/68/130 women that hinder social development by reaffirming the commitment to the empowerment of women and gender equality, to engage, educate, encourage and support men and boys to take responsibility for their behaviour, including their sexual and reproductive behaviour, to mainstream a gender perspective into all development efforts, recognizing that such actions are critical for achieving sustainable development and for efforts to combat hunger, poverty and disease, and to strengthen policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the full participation of young women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, as equal partners, and improve their access to all resources needed for the full exercise of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by removing persistent barriers, including ensuring equal access to full and productive employment and decent work and strengthening their economic independence; Emphasizes the role of education and health literacy in improving health 6. outcomes over a lifetime, and in this regard encourages Member States to promote health education and health literacy among young people, including through evidence-based education and information strategies and programmes, both in and out of school, and through public campaigns, and to increase the access of youth to affordable, safe, effective and sustainable health-care services and social services by paying special attention to, and raising awareness regarding, nutrition, including eating disorders and obesity, the effects of non-communicable and communicable diseases and sexual and reproductive health; Also emphasizes that addressing the specific needs of young people in the 7. response to HIV and AIDS is a key element in efforts to achieve an AIDS-free generation, and urges Member States to strengthen efforts in this regard, including by ensuring the active involvement of young people living with or affected by HIV in the response; Reiterates that access to quality formal and non-formal education, 8. including, as appropriate, catch-up and literacy education, including in information and communications technologies for those who did not receive formal education, information and communications technologies and volunteerism are important factors that enable young people to acquire the relevant skills and to build their capacities for employability and entrepreneurial development and gain decent and productive work, and calls upon Member States to take necessary actions to ensure that young people have access to such services and opportunities; Urges Member States to address high rates of youth unemployment, 9. underemployment, vulnerable employment and informal employment by developing and implementing targeted and integrated local and national youth employment policies for inclusive, sustainable and innovative job creation, improved employability, skills development and vocational training to improve the chances of integrating youth into sustainable labour markets and increased entrepreneurship, including the development of networks of young entrepreneurs at the local, national, regional and global levels that foster knowledge among young people about their rights and responsibilities in society, and in this regard requests donors, specialized United Nations entities and the private sector to continue to provide assistance to Member States, including technical and funding support, as appropriate; 10. Recognizes that youth participation is important for development, and urges Member States and entities of the United Nations system, in consultation with youth-led organizations, to explore new avenues to promote full, effective, structured and sustainable participation of young people and youth-led organizations in relevant decision-making processes, including in the design and implementation 3/5