Activity: Em­power­ing youth to claim their sexual and re­pro­duct­ive health and rights (SRHR): a joint pro­ject on ad­dress­ing teen­age preg­nan­cies in Rwanda


 

Overview

Categories
  • Topics: Health
  • Health: SRHR
Countries
Rwanda
Project duration
July 2018 to August 2019
Commissioned by
  • German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Context

Despite the efforts of the Rwandan government, the rate of teenage pregnancies is rising, and young mothers are experiencing increased discrimination. Recently, approximately 17,500 teenage pregnancies have been counted. The young mothers are often abandoned by their families and forced to drop out of school to care for their child, thus, loose the opportunity to learn a profession and achieve economic independence. In addition, they are often refused official registration at registry offices if they are not accompanied by the father of the newborn child. For fear of prosecution, fathers refrain from officially recognizing their children. Without official registration, however, newborns fall outside the system and have no access to health and social services.

Poor knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights, limited access to contraceptives and sexual violence against girls and young women are the main reasons for the high number of teenage pregnancies. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) remains a taboo subject in Rwanda. Parts of CSE were included in the curriculum, but so far there is no monitoring of the implementation status or results. Poverty, lack of education and lack of knowledge of parents contribute significantly to the lack of awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the limited access to services.

Objective

The aim is to raise awareness on SRHR among young people, especially girls and young women, and to inform and sensitize the community. The ultimate goal of the project is to counteract discrimination against young mothers and to reduce the high rates of teenage pregnancies.

Approach and Results

The project was one of the winners of the GIZ competition "Agents of Change - Child and Youth Rights in German Development Cooperation". The measures were implemented in close cooperation with state and local actors, schools and civil society organizations. The project supports young mothers in claiming their rights and the rights of their children. The objectives of the project were to initiate dialogue, create awareness on sexual rights and health and improve access to information and services for all children and young people. Well-proven approaches such as peer education, human rights education, community debates, lobbying, advocacy and legal assistance were implemented. The following results were achieved: 

  • 148 peer educators were trained in SRHR;
  • 89 local authorities have been trained on children's rights, gender-based violence and child registration;
  • 145 young mothers were provided legal assistance and represented in court;
  • 692 children were registered in 12 registry offices;
  • 3,650 people (2,145 men and 1,505 women) have been sensitized through campaigns;
  • 3291 young people have been sensitized to SRHR in schools by peer educators trained by the project; 
  • 50 teachers had a two-day training on SRHR.

Impact

Due to the different actors involved, effects were achieved at local and national level. Girls and young women who have participated in the trainings and campaigns have been given access to information about their rights and can claim them. The project has contributed to the empowerment of young people, especially young women, and the reduction of discrimination. In selected districts, young mothers can now register their newborns without having to prove the father's identity. This gives girls and children access to health and social services. The project activities were able to reach various target groups, for example, female civil servants, teachers, parents and young people were sensitized on the topic. Strengthening the capacities of the partner organizations also enables the continuation of selected activities even after the end of the project period. An upscaling of the activities into further districts is planned for.