Experts from the agencies discussed this at a two-day regional dialogue on teenage pregnancy jointly organized by SAARC, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (UNICEF ROSA), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
At the event, officials and civil society representatives from India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing the health of more than 2.2 million adolescent girls who give birth annually in South Asia; and provide better opportunities to learn, establish their businesses and earn a living.
Experts noted that most of these girls were child brides and had limited power over their reproductive health or lives.
The South Asian region “has a long way to go. “I call on everyone to resolutely address the root causes including child marriage, access to adolescent health education and elimination of social stigma in the management of the adolescent population of the SAARC region,” said the Ambassador Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC.
South Asia bears the burden of 290 million child brides. These girls are forced to drop out of school and face stigma, rejection, violence, unemployment and lifelong social challenges.
About 49 percent of South Asian girls are not in education, employment or training, the highest in the world, experts said.
With poorer health coverage, teenage mothers also face a higher risk of premature death, and unborn babies also face a significantly higher risk of death.
“It is time to reverse this trend,” said Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia.
She stressed that there is a need to pay "special attention in national and international policies" to the "unique physical, cognitive, social, emotional and sexual development" of adolescents.
She also called for “cross-sector collaboration and equitable access to a range of services,” and increased “investments” to address teen pregnancy and promote their healthy socioeconomic development.
"This supports the well-being of today's young people, who are the human capital of tomorrow," said the Regional Director.
At the event, officials and civil society representatives from India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing the health of more than 2.2 million adolescent girls who give birth annually in South Asia; and provide better opportunities to learn, establish their businesses and earn a living.
Experts noted that most of these girls were child brides and had limited power over their reproductive health or lives.
The South Asian region “has a long way to go. “I call on everyone to resolutely address the root causes including child marriage, access to adolescent health education and elimination of social stigma in the management of the adolescent population of the SAARC region,” said the Ambassador Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC.
South Asia bears the burden of 290 million child brides. These girls are forced to drop out of school and face stigma, rejection, violence, unemployment and lifelong social challenges.
About 49 percent of South Asian girls are not in education, employment or training, the highest in the world, experts said.
With poorer health coverage, teenage mothers also face a higher risk of premature death, and unborn babies also face a significantly higher risk of death.
“It is time to reverse this trend,” said Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia.
She stressed that there is a need to pay "special attention in national and international policies" to the "unique physical, cognitive, social, emotional and sexual development" of adolescents.
She also called for “cross-sector collaboration and equitable access to a range of services,” and increased “investments” to address teen pregnancy and promote their healthy socioeconomic development.
"This supports the well-being of today's young people, who are the human capital of tomorrow," said the Regional Director.
