National Commission for Children (NCC) is committed to sustain the child protection system to prevent teenage pregnancies in Rwanda and continue working on the reintegration and rehabilitation of the affected girls and families.
The commitment was made on Tuesday 14th February 2017, during a consultative and planning meeting on the multi-sectoral approach to the implementation of the African Union women’s rights protocol, commonly known as Maputo Protocol
Speaking at a panel discussion on sexual and reproductive Health Rights issues and teenage pregnancies in Rwanda, Dr Claudine Uwera Kanyamanza, the NCC Executive Secretary, said that the body is doing its best to protect young girls from teenage pregnancies.
“We are promoting positive parenting and we have dispatched well trained psychologists and social workers in districts. They work closely with “Inshuti z’Umuryango”, local leaders and other stakeholders” to handle issues related to child, teenage pregnancies included” she said.
Photo: From the right, Dr Kanyamanza with other panelists
Mechanisms put in place to fight teenage pregnancy include community and different target group’s mobilization through meetings, workshops, media and trainings. Teenage are sensitized through media and different clubs established in different schools countrywide.
Dr Kanyamanza urged all stakeholders and community members to contribute to the fight and make sure that all perpetrators are held accountable.
“Teenage pregnancy is a result of a crime we prevent first before we deal with the pregnancy and its consequences. We have established a strong child protection system with good laws and policies to hold accountable all those who pregnant a teenage. None should escape from justice” She pointed out
The two days meeting held in Kigali was organized by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion in collaboration with OXFAM.
Teenage pregnancies issue was discussed in line with article 14 of Maputo protocol which stipulates the right to control one’s fertility, the right to decide whether to have children, the number of children and spacing of children.
Teenage are urged to observe parents’ advice to avoid pregnancies
The meeting was attended by some of the mother teenage who shared their experience to participants.
One of them who got pregnant at 15 years old revealed that the pregnancy prevented her from exercising her rights to education, health and economic autonomy.
“I got pregnant when I was in senior two and I have never gone back to school as I was obliged to take care of my child. The pregnancy has dramatically hindered my development” Said the lady who is now 27
She advised young girls to avoid any private relationship with young men to minimize the risk of getting pregnant, urging them to focus on their studies and respect their parents’ advice.
“I regret for having ignored my mother’s advice. She used to prevent me from engaging private relationship with gentlemen. I thought she was against my rights. I ended up in a situation which affected my life. I urge my yang sisters to respect their parents and advice” She pointed out
Speaking to journalists, Dr Kanyamanza urged parents to discuss with the children about human reproductive health and report any teenage sexual intercourse cases as quick as possible.
“Some parents are still reluctant in reporting teenage sexual intercourse cases. They think that it is a shame to the family. We need to change the mind set and report any case to protect our young girls” She said
There is no current teenage pregnancies statistics. But Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey, 2015 indicates that pregnancy among teenage girls in Rwanda was 7,2%.