Every Young Person Deserves the Power to Decide

Our Issues / Adolescent Health and Rights

An illustrative collage of an adolescent girl and a classroom with teachers and students

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

43% of adolescent girls who want to avoid a pregnancy have an unmet need for modern contraception.
12M 12 million adolescent girls give birth each year.
27K 27,000 maternal deaths occur each year among adolescent girls.

Among adolescent girls in low-and middle income countries, aged 15-19, with unmet need for modern contraception

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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

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