When a girl becomes pregnant, her present and future change radically, and rarely for the better. In fortunate cases, she survives the pregnancy; however, she still has to drop out of school and take on the responsibility of child-rearing. Her future no longer revolves around her personal aspirations, but those of her child. In time poverty, she finds herself trapped.
The national evidence accumulated over time shows adolescent pregnancy and childbearing impacts girls, their families, and their societies with poorer health and economic outcomes. Moreover, adolescent pregnancy should be approached not only as a concern for public health, but also as an issue concerning individual rights and choices.
As the lead United Nations agency on sexual and reproductive health and rights, UNFPA supports the Philippine government’s efforts to “promote to the fullest extent the health, well-being, and potential of all children, adolescents, and youth” as committed to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) - Programme of Action (PoA), including accelerating implementation and funding of the ICPD-PoA and the SDGs agenda, during the Nairobi Summit on ICPD 25 in 2019.
UNFPA supports the pursuance of legislative reforms that include the adoption of a new law that would protect the health and well-being of adolescents and prevent adolescent pregnancy, HIV/STI transmission, and child sexual exploitation and abuse—particularly, policies that enable young people to make responsible and informed choices.
UNFPA recommends, and supports existing initiatives related to the following:
1. Accelerate the provision of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for all adolescents
2. Ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents without parental consent
3. Ensure that access to quality sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents is part of the Universal Health Care Law (UHC) implementation in the country
4. Address harmful norms and social barriers that limits adolescents’ right to realize their full potential
5. Promote parents, men and boys engagement
6. Enhance Social Protection Mechanisms for adolescents and youth
7. Develop programmes and policies dedicated to building the capabilities and human capital of adolescents
8. Enhance adolescent and youth participation
9. Develop targeted strategy for most vulnerable groups
10. Generation of data and evidence
Ultimately, UNFPA supports efforts to strengthen an age-, development- and context-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd). UNFPA remains a steadfast partner of the Philippine government in paving the way for a brighter future for every Filipino adolescents.
Read the full position paper here: UNFPA Position Paper on Senate Resolution No. 13
