On July 11 the United Nations observes “World Population Day” with the focus this year on adolescent pregnancy. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that about 16 million girls under the age of 18 give birth each year and that another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted that adolescent pregnancy is a sensitive topic that demands global attention. To address the problem girls must be empowered through improved health services and good education. “When a young girl is educated, she is more likely to marry later, delay childbearing until she is ready, have healthier children, and earn a higher income”, Ban Ki-moon said in his message.
