Every Young Person Deserves the Power to Decide
It’s important to support girls in making informed decisions about their sexuality and reproductive health.
Adolescents face major barriers to their sexual and reproductive health. They lack access to proper sexuality education and essential health services. Many do not receive the reproductive care they need, such as contraception and maternal health care. As a result one in four adolescents do not receive necessary contraception and seven million adolescents give birth each year. Early pregnancy and childbirth also pose serious risks to their health and well-being.
Adolescent girls and reproductive health
Among adolescent girls in low-and middle income countries, aged 15-19, with unmet need for modern contraception
Since 2021, as a result of the Center’s work, 442 million people live in countries with stronger legal protections for adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Upholding adolescents’ rights globally
The Center for Reproductive Rights leads legal efforts to support girls’ freedom and choices. We work to ensure access to sexual and reproductive rights and health services. We’ve won legal victories in national and regional courts, as well as accountability bodies.
We aim to strengthen laws, policies, and practices that protect the human rights of girls and adolescents. We work globally and at regional, national, and community levels, and to seek justice when their rights are violated.
Our global work for adolescent rights
We take legal action and lead advocacy to protect adolescents’ rights.
Explore highlights of our work on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Victory at the UN in the “They Are Girls, Not Mothers” Cases

African Committee Recommends Tanzania Reform Policies That Barred Pregnant Girls from School
Paola Guzmán Albarracín v. Ecuador (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights)
Read the Center’s publications and learn more about adolescent health & rights.

New Program in Africa to Improve Adolescents’ Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care and Rights

Victory for Children’s Rights: Ending Child Marriage in the Philippines
Ending Impunity for Child Marriage in India: Normative and Implementation Gaps
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