The National Programme Assistant for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr. Faisal Bawa, has lamented that teenage pregnancy is still on the rise across the country.
He made the remarks while speaking in an interview with Rainbowradioonline.com after he and representatives from UNFPA joined Act for Change, a non-governmental organisation, for their “Men’s March for Women’s Rights.”
The march was held on Sunday, December 10, 2023, to raise awareness of SGBV and harmful practices.
The walk forms part of the activities of its project, Transforming Men Movement, which held the first edition of the annual “Men’s March for Women’s Rights” in November.
He admitted that in terms of violence against women, the statistics show that 27 percent of women have suffered some form of violence.
However, the UNFPA is working with other partners and stakeholders to bring the number down.
He said that in the area of child marriage, we are seeing that the numbers are reducing and that fewer and fewer girls are being asked to go and marry.
“Our concern is in the area of teenage pregnancy. It’s very high across the country, and tar is something we are worried about. We are working with all stakeholders to ensure that we reduce the numbers when it comes to teenage pregnancy.”
According to him, one of the most widespread human rights abuses in the world is still violence against women and girls.
Approximately 736 million women worldwide, or almost one in three, have experienced intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual assault, or both at some point in their lives.
In addition, he advocated for increased funding for women’s organisations, improved laws, the prosecution of offenders, increased services for victims, and law enforcement personnel training.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
