Teen moms keep rising

Justicia Shipena Under the theme 'Survivors speak up! No more teenage pregnancy: Is the girl child the only one responsible for teenage pregnancy in Namibia?', the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), in collaboration with the Regain Trust and the European Union, held a public dialogue on 13 September at Nust.The dialogue was aimed at achieving a holistic approach towards the prevention of gender-based violence and learner pregnancies, as well as the protection of those affected.Public dialogues have served as an effective platform for open criticism and the exchange of views on current challenges and opportunities that youth face on a daily basis.The attendees comprised of local decision-makers on youth policy implementation, as well as the youth themselves. The attendees had a chance to put forward their proposals and share their views on the issues.During the open discussions, special attention was attached to the significance of advocating for a decrease of teenage pregnancies in Namibia.Gender activist Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi said focus should between the boy and girl child. “We need to change gender roles that disempower women and give men the false sense of power that is killing youth in their most productive years. “The family as a social institution is a brewery for patriarchal practices, by socialising the youth to accept sexuality differentiated roles,” he said. Karuaihe-Upi said men also have the right to assume a more nurturing role, and opportunities for them to do so should be promoted, equally. Thus providing spaces where men and boys can discuss gender roles alone and amongst their peers, in a non-threatening and non-defensive environment, can also be a helpful starting point.“Addressing these rights and responsibilities entails recognising men-specific problems and the conditions that shape them,” he said.FES project manager, Sylvia Mundjindi, said teenage pregnancy has become one of the most disturbing social challenges in Namibia.“Teenage pregnancy, in most cases, affects the quality of life of the girl child, although the girl child is also responsible,” she said. The recommendations included:• Both parents should be involved in the sexual education of the boy and girl child;• Sex education in both rural and urban areas should be made compulsory;• Regular, ongoing monitoring of policies and their implementation should take place;• Adequate resources should be committed towards the implementation of the teenage pregnancy policy; • The girl and boy child should be empowered to be assertive and report sexual violence to the relevant authorities;• A life education course should be implemented that targets teacher life skills; • The policy should include both genders; and • Social gender rules should be changed, in order to promote good healthy relationships within society.

Teen moms keep rising

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-07

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Teen moms keep rising

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-07

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