Towards 2040: Defining an African Human Rights Framework on the Right to Education of Pregnant Girls and Adolescent Mothers – Policy Brief
Across Africa, one in every five girls are pregnant before they turn 19. In 2024, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated that six million pregnant and parenting girls ages 10 to 19 were out of school; less than 5 percent return to school after pregnancy. Many will likely be asked to leave school once they, their parents, or their schools find out they are pregnant. Many of these girls will be excluded or unable to return to school after pregnancy due to stigma, exclusion, discrimination and, in many cases, the lack of economic or social support.
This policy brief shows that the majority of African states have adopted measures that stipulate that girls can return to school after pregnancy. Notwithstanding important progress, governments’ implementation, enforcement, and compliance regarding their human rights obligations requires greater attention. About 20 AU member states have not adopted adequate measures to comply with article 11(6) of the African Children’s Charter. Some continue to criminalize sexual conduct outside marriage, with disastrous effects on pregnant girls’ education. This inconsistent approach across Africa demonstrates an urgent need to address the implementation gap between states parties’ obligations under the African human rights treaties and the actions and measures taken by African governments to uphold or hinder the right to education of pregnant girls and adolescent mothers.
Related Posts
The Human Rights Committee Urges Malawi to Safeguard Sexual and Reproductive Rights
In July 2014, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (the Committee), which monitors states’ implementation of the International Covenant on...
Shadow Letter: Supplementary Information on Nigeria to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
This letter is intended to supplement the combined third and fourth periodic report submitted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria,...
