January 29th, 2025, Medical Doctors for Choice (MDFC) participated in a significant national dialogue hosted by IMRO Rwanda. This event brought together key government stakeholders—including MINEDUC, MIGEPROF, MINIJUST, and RBC—and civil society organizations to address the rising concern of teenage pregnancy and the barriers adolescents face in accessing contraception.
The purpose of this dialogue was to foster a collaborative conversation aimed at raising awareness of the systemic drivers of teenage pregnancy, evaluating the efficacy of current programs and policies, and developing actionable recommendations that could improve adolescents’ access to reproductive health services.
Dr. Anicet, a renowned SRHR expert, guided participants through dynamic group discussions focused on the root causes of teenage pregnancy. Contributors identified key issues such as poverty, lack of accurate SRHR information, peer pressure, and the influence of cultural and religious beliefs. Family conflicts were also flagged as contributing factors to adolescents’ vulnerability.
Participants proposed multifaceted solutions, including the reinforcement of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools, engaging parents in open conversations about reproductive health, and advocating for legal reforms that eliminate access restrictions to contraception. A shared emphasis was placed on strengthening community-level awareness to shift social norms around adolescent sexuality.
By the end of the session, a series of strong recommendations had been developed. These included enhancing youth-friendly SRHR services, improving data monitoring, and engaging cultural and religious leaders in advocacy efforts. MDFC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the rights of adolescents and supporting intersectional solutions to mitigate teenage pregnancy.