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In his opening remarks, United Nations Resident Coordinator Nelson Muffuh highlighted the importance of equipping young individuals with skills and empowering them to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. “Efforts to avert teenage pregnancies in South Africa are crucial for ensuring the development of the country’s human capital.
A study commissioned by the French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and carried out by Southern Hemisphere, a socioeconomic development consultancy, was presented at the event. Examining the effectiveness and resourcing of interventions to prevent early and unintended pregnancies in South Africa and Malawi, it confirms that challenges are multifaceted, and thus layered approaches are required to address the problem.
Indeed, breaking the cycle of childhood pregnancy requires a multi-pronged approach involving various policy interventions across different sectors. Governments can create an enabling environment through policy development and implementation, funding and coordination. By working together in partnership with young people, communities and governments, meaningful change can be driven to make lasting impact.
“Together, we will break the cycle of childhood pregnancy through enhancing gender equality, improving educational outcomes, and empowering girls to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and, ultimately, to realise their infinite potential.
Limited access to comprehensive sexual education, inadequate provision of contraceptives, socioeconomic disparities, and cultural norms surrounding gender and sexuality all contribute to this persistent challenge. The consequences of early and unintended pregnancies are far-reaching, affecting individuals’ health, education, and economic opportunities, and perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
South Africa still has not been able to fully achieve the ICPD agenda, and putting young people at the centre of development is one way that it can accelerate its pace. The National Development Plan already recognises that South Africa’s population has hit a “sweet spot”, with a highly favourable age distribution profile, with a large youth and working-age population and proportionally fewer very old people and very young children.