Talking Points

discussing teenage pregnancy, rights of the child and other related concerns

Our country has recognized the RIGHTS OF THE CHILD as well as its citizens’ REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS; these would be the best framework for advocating for health and services that are child- and youth-friendly.

The right to life and health of the child merits enough concern for the teenage parents as their child’s well-being will be determined by the health and well-being of the teenage mother. Also, the teenage mother has the right to bank on the government and the rest of society to provide her the support systems that will ensure her good health before, during and after pregnancy.

It is also important to emphasize the RIGHT TO THE BENEFITS OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS. This basically guarantees a person’s right to information on, and access to, new reproductive health technologies which are safe, effective and affordable. How should we address the needs of teenagers who are already
sexually active ? How can we help them make better choices?

The key is providing teenagers the necessary information about their rights as young citizens of this country as well as their responsibilities to, and the rights of, the unborn or newly born child. It is only through understanding all these rights and responsibilities as well as the consequences of their decisions that teenagers could make an informed choice.

What we are advocating for is YOUTH EMPOWERMENT!

In the realm of Adolescent Reproductive Health, empowerment means that we should make way for the
building up and development of services and structures that addresses youth sexuality and specifically in this case, prevention and management of teenage pregnancy. What kinds of services are these?

advocating for children and youth

Education - Prevention is worth a pound of cure, so the cliché goes. It is time for our children and youth to enjoy comprehensive education on reproductive health that is taught within the context of values and character education but EQUALLY discussing health and practical concepts such as reproductive abnormalities, infections, cancers, family planning, contraceptive use, sexual behavior, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and complications of teen-age pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and others. We don’t teach a toddler about condoms, of course. Intelligent people would easily deduce that we teach Adolescent Reproductive Health in bits and pieces appropriate to each stage of our children’s life according to their evolving capacities.

Reproductive Health Services – Both for girls and boys, for pregnant and non-pregnant teens. Adolescent Reproductive Health Services include the checkup of teens for early detection of abnormalities and possible infections in their reproductive system. They may present conditions that lead to infertility or cancers, which can be prevented if detected early. As for pregnant teens, youth-friendly medical hospitals, clinics and services must be established that would help prevent further demoralization of teenagers who are in troubled and confused situations. Privacy and confidentiality must be guaranteed to them. Support services such as counseling and referral to other established youth-friendly institutions must be in place. The principle behind all of this is caring for our health-seeking and support-seeking teenagers. We would like to shy away from the old school of thought where one who experiences teenage pregnancy or other reproductive health-related issues will be condemned, maligned and left alone to grope in the dark.