If a teenager does become pregnant, she and her parents are likely to feel
shame and humiliation. Meanwhile, fearing damage to its reputation, the school will
pressure her to drop out.
..........
The United Nations Population Fund, within the framework of the ICPD
Programme of Action, has placed importance on protecting and fulfilling human
rights to protect sexual and reproductive health, especially for teenage girls, by
considering:
• Reducing pregnancy risks by considering the needs of teenage girls,
especially sexually active teenagers and neglected teenagers;
• Enhancing the capacity and strengthening the participation of civil
society, communities and teenagers;
• Empowering teenage girls to continue their education and gain the
opportunity for self-development towards a better quality of life;
• Advocating new ideas that concern human rights protection in order to
effect a change in perspectives, attitudes, thinking processes and habits,
as well as valuing and defining the structure, policies and the actions
towards the protection and care of pregnant teenagers. It is important not
to blame the adolescents for the problem, and to realise that all adults
involved have a responsibility to protect children’s rights and basic needs
so as to lower the risks of teenage pregnancy.