Dear Team,

Today, as we honor the 10th annual United Nations International Day of the Girl Child, we know that girls and adolescents around the world face significant barriers to essential sexual and reproductive health services. One in four adolescents has an unmet need for contraception and seven million adolescents give birth each year.

The Center for Reproductive Rights is working to guarantee girls and young people their right to make informed decisions about their sexuality and reproduction. Your support today will help us continue this important work around the world.

Work like our recent win for adolescents' rights in Tanzania.

For years, the Tanzanian government has forced girls in public schools to undergo mandatory pregnancy testing and expelled them permanently if they were pregnant — denying thousands the opportunity to continue their formal education.

In 2019, the Center filed a case alongside the Legal and Human Rights Centre of Tanzania on behalf of six adolescent girls who were expelled from school for being pregnant, as well as all girls in Tanzania.

Last month, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child found that the practice of expelling pregnant students from school violated adolescent girls' human rights and recommended that Tanzania reform its education policies.

This victory will largely contribute to ensuring stronger legal guarantees for sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents throughout Africa. The reforms also include wider access to reproductive health services and information for adolescents.

Photo credit: © Zeljko Santrac/iStock Photo

At the Center, we know that enabling girls to make informed and autonomous decisions about their sexuality and reproductive health is critical for fulfilling their human rights and ensuring access to education, economic opportunities, social empowerment, and financial independence.

Thank you for being with us as we fight for the rights of girls and young people around the world. Consider giving a gift today in honor of the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child.

In solidarity,

Martin Onyango
Associate Director, Legal Strategies, Africa