Latin America and the Caribbean have the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world. 

However, teenage pregnancy is almost never the result of a free and informed decision. Many adolescents lack the information, support, or services necessary to make informed decisions when exercising their reproductive freedom. 

"I didn't know I had the right to decide. I didn't know that sexual and reproductive health was a right.” Lindira, a Garifuna teenager from Guatemala, told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

To end these disparities in sexual and reproductive rights and education, and improve the lives of women and girls, it’s crucial to address the root causes.

Catherine McKinley, a Human Rights Specialist with UNFPA, expanded on this crucial context for our work in Latin America and the Caribbean: “Youth face multiple barriers: poverty, racism, violence, exclusion from educational and health systems, and social norms that restrict their life choices.”

UNFPA trainings in these regions seek to reduce teen pregnancies by addressing stigma and prejudice in healthcare. This way, women and girls like Lindira can receive empathetic care that considers the cultural realities of their communities. 

UNFPA staff Florencia Gonzales and Eva Esther Bernárdez represent Honduran Garifuna women of different generations who have worked on the reduction of teenage pregnancy in their territory.

When young people are empowered, not only are their lives transformed, but so are entire generations. We can reach more youth when we have more people supporting our work.

Please help inspire generational change by donating to power UNFPA trainings in Latin America, the Caribbean, and around the world. Together, we can ensure all women and girls have the tools they need to support their future.

Thank you for helping educate and empower women in girls around the world. 

— USA for UNFPA