The call for the government of Liberia to declare teenage pregnancy a national disaster has intensified. This call is backed by over a hundred adolescent girls who believe that declaring teenage pregnancy a national disaster is paramount.
It follows the recent two-day conference organized by the Adolescent Girls Unit of the Ministry of Gender in Kakata, Margibi County, which ran from the 8th to the 9th of September.
This conference aimed at empowering young women and adolescent girls by addressing their rights, including sexual, reproductive, educational, cultural, and economic concerns.
The event attracted over 200 participants from all of Liberia’s 15 counties and focused on increasing girls’ capacities to engage with stakeholders, challenge stereotypes, and promote male advocacy.
After two days of intensive working sessions at the National Young Women and Girls Conference, participants called on the Government of Liberia to declare teenage pregnancy a national emergency.
They urged the provision of free family planning services in schools and communities, similar to condom distribution.
The participants identified the lack of sexual and reproductive health education as a major cause of teenage pregnancy, often leading to serious health complications for young girls still in school.
The conference, held under the theme “Education: A Pathway to Building Resilience Against Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights,” was sponsored by WaterAid Liberia. Deputy Minister of Gender Laura Golakeh shared alarming findings from the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index (SCORE).
The findings indicate that approximately two out of ten Liberians support domestic violence against women and children, while one in ten endorses sexual violence, including rape.
These attitudes, deeply rooted in cultural practices and beliefs, present significant challenges in addressing gender norms, especially in rural areas where higher rates of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) exist.
To address these challenges, she announced that the 2024 conference would be decentralized, focusing on enhancing local efforts to support women and girls. She noted the trauma faced by SGBV survivors and the effects it has on them in society.
By: Blesset D Kpenkennie
