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President
Cyril
Ramaphosa
The Presidency Office
Dear Mr President Cyril Ramaphosa, I am concerned that early pregnancy in South Africa is not getting the necessary attention from the government you lead. It is a social, health and economic issue affecting our most precious resource: our children. In 2020, over 600 children aged 10-13 years were registered to have given birth, including late registrations. Of these, 499 gave birth in 2020. In the same year, a total of 33,899 births occurred to children aged 17 years and younger. I know this is a societal issue that needs to be tackled by the government and the people together. However, the state has a responsibility to create an enabling environment for people to make autonomous and informed decisions. This includes eliminating harmful stereotypes and discrimination; and destigmatising adolescent pregnancy and abortion. There also needs to be access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and information; the promotion of reproductive justice; and participation in decision-making and policy-development of those directly affected by the issue. There needs to be effective, age-appropriate and good quality comprehensive sexuality education and life skills programmes delivered by well-trained teachers. Research shows that improved knowledge on HIV and pregnancy prevention, decreases risk-taking, and improves attitudes to condom use. In addition to this, gender-based violence must be tackled as one of the root causes of early pregnancy. In an event where the pregnancy occurs as a result of rape and statutory rape, cases must be reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The criminal justice system, including the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority, must respond in a timeous, efficient and effective manner to these cases. President Ramaphosa it is time that you and your government take this issue of early pregnancy seriously and protect girls’ rights to health, information, education, equality and to live freely from GBV and discrimination. Your Sincerely,
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