Rwanda’s Minister of Health has introduced a bill aimed at allowing adolescent girls aged 15 years and older to access reproductive health services, particularly contraception, to limit unwanted pregnancies.
There “law that regulates health services”presented to Parliament on Tuesday, November 5, it must be discussed and voted on in the coming days. He should face voices that oppose him in this conservative country.
More and more early pregnancies
“Inaccessibility to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents, including contraceptives, generates high rates of unwanted pregnancies”declared the Minister of Health, Sabin Nsanzimana, when presenting the project to the deputies.
Supporters also argue that the current law discriminates against adolescent girls by denying them the right to make decisions about their reproductive health, since the sexual age of majority in Rwanda is 18.
In 2022, Parliament rejected a similar initiative, however, underlines Aflodis Kagaba, executive director of the NGO Health Development Initiative, which participated in drafting the bill.
“Unfortunately, some people are still not open to the idea”declared to Agence France-Presse (AFP), indicating that he had shared “There is a lot of research and facts that show that young people are sexually active and we must protect them”.
“I will not vote for this bill. At 15, you are still a child, but with a law like this, adults will easily exploit and sexually abuse them without consequences.”MP Christine Mukabinani, of the Imberakuri Social Party, told AFP.
According to the Ministry of Health, Rwanda is registering more and more early pregnancies. Between January and June 2024, more than 10,000 early pregnancies were registered. Abortion in Rwanda is only legal if it is the result of rape, incest or forced marriage.
