Minister, excellences, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

When a young girl becomes pregnant, her life changes dramatically and rarely for the better. Her education may end, her job prospects evaporate, and her vulnerability to poverty is likely to increase.

Mouniratou

Less than three weeks ago, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I visited Burkina Faso. There, I had the opportunity to spend time with one of the young girls in the photo exhibition – Mouniratou. She lives in the capital Ouagadougou with her grandmother, aunt and cousins and her little daughter Leylatou.  Her parents are working in the Ivory Coast and they have not yet met their grandchild.

When Mouniratou was 14 she became pregnant. She was one of 5,000 girls every day in developing countries who become pregnant before they have turned 15. Early adolescence is an age where young girls should be learning and developing their full potential. Luckily, Mouniratou is a bright young woman with dreams and hopes for the future.

She continued to go to school throughout her pregnancy and returned to school a week after giving birth. She was able to do this because of the support of her grandmother, who looks after Leylatou, when Mouniratou is in school. She wants to become an architect and understands that for that to become a reality her education cannot be compromised. In comparison with many other young girls in her situation where a pregnancy puts an end to a formal education, she is very fortunate.

Reaching 10-14 years old

Efforts—and resources—to prevent early pregnancy have typically focused on girls between 15 to 19 years. Yet, girls who are 15 years or younger, are often even more vulnerable and they are at even greater risk of complications and death from pregnancy and child birth.

This group of very young girls is typically overlooked by, or is beyond the reach of, national health, education and development institutions.

Human rights

Adolescent pregnancy is intertwined with issues of human rights.

A pregnant girl who is pressured or forced to leave school is denied her right to an education.

A girl who leaves school early is denied her right to development.

A girl who is forbidden to access contraception or even information about preventing a pregnancy is denied her right to health.

Ensuring that laws and policies comply with international human rights standards is very important.

Behavioural change

But I also believe that when we have a better understanding of the cultural and traditional practices, it is easier to find the best ways to support girls. Changing norms and behaviours takes time. It will not happen overnight.

Men and boys

We need a shared vision between men and women that girls deserve the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

On this issue, we must increase our focus on and involvement of boys – and men - so that they are also part of the solution.

Improving gender inequality and sexual and reproductive health and rights concerns us all – men, women, girls and boys.

In Burkina Faso there exists a culture where women are socially and economically dependent on men.  It is a very traditional patriarchal society where the men make decisions on behalf of women. However, here I met with a group of men who are in a so-called husband school. These schools are not formal institutions. Rather, they are groups of married men who come together to learn about and discuss possible solutions to reproductive health concerns.

These men become guides and role models within their communities and this contributes to changing the traditional views of men’s and women’s roles. The goal is to involve men in health promotion and foster a change in behaviour in their communities. This will both serve to improve gender equality and to increase womens’ chance to go through pregnancy and childbirth without risking their life and health.

I strongly believe gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will create some of the greatest opportunities of our time.  

The child mothers in the exhibition tell their individual stories. But what they all have in common is the powerlessness, poverty and pressures from partners, peers, families and communities. Lack of opportunity to choose a different life for themselves. And in too many instances they have been subjected to sexual violence or coercion. Girls who have little autonomy – particularly those in forced marriages – have little say about whether or when they become pregnant.

End

This exhibition is important because it gives the girls a voice. It provides them with a chance to tell their story, to create awareness about their situation; about the often overlooked very young mothers. Increased efforts must be made to reach very young girls; to protect them; to enable them to make their own life choices; and to give those who are already mothers a better chance to go back to school and pursue their dreams. 

My dream is that there will be a day where young girls do not become mothers while they still are children.

Thank you.