Rwanda plans to legalize contraception from age 15
A bill to combat teenage pregnancies
In response to rising teenage pregnancies, Rwanda’s Minister of Health has tabled a bill that would allow adolescent girls aged 15 and above to access reproductive health services, including contraception. The move aims to prevent unwanted pregnancies among young girls.
A law under debate in a conservative context
The new “health services regulation law” was presented to parliament on Tuesday and is expected to be examined in the coming days. However, the bill is likely to attract opposition, as Rwanda is a predominantly conservative country.
Justifications of the Minister of Health
Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana told MPs that lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services is a major cause of the high rate of unwanted pregnancies. He said current legislation limits adolescent girls’ reproductive health rights, with the legal age of consent set at 18 in Rwanda.
NGO support and debate on adolescent girls’ rights
The bill has the support of several NGOs, including the Health Development Initiative, which helped draft it. According to Aflodis Kagaba, director of the NGO, it is crucial to protect young people, who are sexually active, by providing them with contraception. However, he recalls that Parliament had rejected a similar initiative in 2022.
Opposition to the law
Some MPs, such as Christine Mukabinani of the PS Imberakuri, are firmly opposed to this project, believing that at 15, adolescents are still children and risk being exploited if such a law is adopted.
Increase in teenage pregnancies in Rwanda
According to the Ministry of Health, teenage pregnancies are increasing: between January and June 2024, more than 10,000 cases of teenage pregnancies were recorded. In Rwanda, abortion is only legal in certain specific cases, such as rape, incest or forced marriage.
Conclusion
Rwanda’s proposed law to allow contraception for 15-year-old girls reflects a pressing public health issue in the country. Although controversial, the bill could provide girls with tailored prevention options and reduce the consequences of early pregnancy. It remains to be seen whether the Rwandan parliament will accept the change in the face of cultural and social resistance.
