(December 9, 2013) Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is calling for urgent action involving key stakeholders of the Caribbean to lower the rates of adolescent pregnancy. The call was made during a one-day High Level Consultation on reducing adolescent pregnancy held in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on Monday December 9.
Noting that around 20% of women in the Caribbean have had at least one child by the age of 19 and that a significant number of these births happen before the mother is 15 years old, the UNFPA chief said this was clearly a challenge for the region. He noted, however, that the problem of adolescent pregnancy can be solved with a multi-sectorial approach involving key stakeholders. These include governments, CARICOM, civil society, faith-based organizations, youth and the private sector, all working together.
The high level consultation organized by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and UNFPA, with support from the government of Trinidad and Tobago, sought to raise political commitment for the reduction of adolescent pregnancy in the region.
“The main goal is to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies in each country of the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean by at least 50% within the period 2014-2017,” Dr. Osotimehin stated.
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in an address to the opening ceremony, which was delivered by the Minister of Health, Dr. Fuad Khan, warned that the region must not fail its children and adolescents. She noted that while it was clear that there were initiatives, structures and even the passion to care for and empower children, there were gaps, which the meeting should seek to identify and address.
“We must, together discover the things we are missing, and the elements which we must bring together to seal the cracks and remove the loopholes,” she stated.
CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General Human and Social Development Dr. Douglas Slater commented that adolescent pregnancy is linked to a host of other critical social issues with which the Caribbean is grappling.
“If more children in this region were born to parents ready and able to care for them, we would see a significant reduction in a host of social problems afflicting children in the Caribbean region, from school failure and crime to child abuse and neglect, among others,” he added.
Ambassador John W. Ashe, President of the 68th Session of the General Assembly in an address read by Special Adviser, Dornella Seth, said equipping young girls to make good choices is a key strategy for reducing adolescent pregnancies.
“Empowering today’s young girls (tomorrow’s women) is not only just… it is an investment in our shared future.”
The meeting was attended by 10 Ministers of Governments from across the region, other government officials, representatives from civil society, the private sector, youth organizations, the United Nations System and other international development partners.
