Rwanda is aiming to address the high rates of teenage pregnancy by expanding reproductive health services to girls as young as 15, as outlined in a new bill presented to parliament this week.
The proposed legislation seeks to allow girls aged 15 and older to access contraception, but it is anticipated to encounter opposition in the culturally conservative country and has previously been turned down.
Proponents of the bill, introduced in parliament on Tuesday, claim that the existing law discriminates against those under 18 by preventing them from making choices regarding their reproductive health.
The bill will be discussed before a vote takes place in the upcoming days.
Critics of the bill say that it might heighten the risk of teenagers being sexually exploited and abused by older individuals.
However, Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana, who put forward the legislation, contended that withholding reproductive health services from teenagers contributes to the rising rates of teenage pregnancy.
According to the health ministry, teenage pregnancies are on the rise in Rwanda, with over 10,000 cases reported from January to June this year alone.
In Rwanda, abortion is prohibited unless it occurs as a result of rape, incest, or forced marriage.
