Adolescenti donne in un paese cattolico diviso sulle politiche di educazione sessuale
In the heart of Manila's informal settlement of Baseco, 14-year-old Clara finds herself six months pregnant, hoping for a boy. Her story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, a legislative initiative spearheaded by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The bill, aimed at standardizing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools and improving access to sexual health services, has faced opposition from conservative organizations and church groups, particularly due to concerns about CSE. However, the latest version of the bill, refiled last month, includes amendments in response to a "severe backlash."
Jaye Bekema, the chief legislative officer for Sen. Hontiveros, mentioned that the amendments were made to address concerns, including the removal of the phrase guided by "international standards" and the addition of a line ensuring "parental authority or academic and religious freedom." Mentions of abortion and contraception have also been cut.
The bill now faces several rounds of committee hearings and readings by lawmakers. If passed, it could make a significant impact on the lives of adolescents like Clara, who, due to limited sex education, found herself in a precarious situation.
Clara met her boyfriend through friends and has not attended any antenatal checkups due to a lack of funds. She believes that had she received better sex education, she might have avoided getting pregnant so young.
Meanwhile, organisations such as Likhaan work tirelessly to bridge the gap in sexual and reproductive health services by visiting communities they deem most in need. Dr Junice Melgar, the Executive Director at Likhaan, explains that pregnancy in girls below the age of 16 is three times riskier than in older women.
The Philippines, with its high rate of child and teen pregnancies, has one of the highest rates in Asia. In fact, the number of pregnancies among girls aged 14 and younger has increased by 38% from 2019 to 2023.
Another young mother grappling with her new identity is Jude, a 15-year-old girl who dropped out of school at the age of 14, when she was eight months pregnant, and moved in with her then 21-year-old boyfriend. The non-profit Family Planning Organisation of the Philippines (FPOP) is now supporting Jude with family planning measures and sharing resources to allow her to continue her studies.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to veto the bill in its previous form. However, with the recent amendments, it remains to be seen how the President will respond. The Philippine government, which has declared teen pregnancies a "national social emergency," is hopeful that the bill will pass, providing a much-needed boost to adolescent health and wellbeing.
According to a study funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the 7-year age gap between young mothers and their partners is the average. This underscores the need for comprehensive sexuality education and access to sexual health services, which the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill aims to address.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, it is crucial that it remains faithful to its original intent: to empower adolescents with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. The lives of countless young girls like Clara and Jude depend on it.
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