Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, will today relaunch the SheDecides Movement in South Africa, in collaboration with Kgosi Gaboilelwe Moroka of Barolong Boo Seleka Traditional Council in the Free State.
SheDecides is a global movement to promote, provide, protect and enhance the fundamental rights of girls and women to bodily autonomy and to make decisions about their bodies, lives, health and futures.
The movement advocates for investment in comprehensive sexuality education to reduce unintended pregnancies, including teenage pregnancy.
The relaunch comes at the back of a report by Statistics South Africa titled: “The Young and Restless-Adolescent Health in South Africa” which shows that adolescents aged 10-19 represent a significant proportion of the population at 17,4%.
The report further shows that adolescents face many challenges such as mental health issues, alcohol and drug use, and early and unprotected sex, which carries a high risk of acquiring HIV infections and other sexually transmitted infections as well as teenage pregnancy.
“Over the last three years, there has been a significant increase in teenage pregnancy in the age cohort 10-14 and 14-19 years who delivered at public health facilities, with estimates revealing that over 150 000 young girls were pregnant in the 2022/2023 financial year.
“Teenage pregnancy has adverse outcomes for girls as they often drop out of school and prevent them from realising their full potential, enjoying and exercising their rights.
“It curtails their learning outcomes and education status, which in turn limits their future participation in economic opportunities and perpetuates intergenerational cycle of poverty,” said the Department of Social Development in a statement.
Prior to Friday’s relaunch, Minister Zulu and Kgosi Moroka will visit local health facilities, which have a crucial role to play in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents and teenagers.
After the relaunch, the department will embark on a national roll out of the SheDecides Movement to complement other initiatives such as ChommY and YOLO, with focus on teenage pregnancy hot spots areas across the country.
Launched in 2020 ChommY, a colloquial term for “friend” seeks to build a positive friendship among children of between 10 and 14 years. ChommY aims to generate knowledge, develop skills and empower young people to make more informed choices to reduce HIV infections, substance abuse, boost self-confidence and to prevent teenage pregnancies.
Meanwhile, the You Only Live Once (YOLO) programme was launched in 2015 to educate young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years about HIV/Aids, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and being agents of social change. YOLO was established as part of the department’s Comprehensive Strategy on HIV and Aids
With the festive season upon us and young people engaging in the so-called “pens down” celebrations across the country, Minister Zulu will also use the opportunity to launch an anti-alcohol and substance abuse festive season campaign to create awareness and educate the public about the negative effects of alcohol and substance abuse, including under-age drinking.
“Alcohol is the most used and abused drug amongst South Africans. One of the most alarming consequences of drug and alcohol abuse during this time of the year is an uptick in alcohol-related road fatalities.
"As the festive season approaches and we celebrate the end of what has been a difficult year for many, we appeal that we do so in a drug-free environment to prevent the heightened risk of drugs and alcohol-related accidents, trauma and injuries during this time of the year,” Minister Zulu said.
The Anti-Alcohol and Drugs Festive Season Campaign forms part of the activities for the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan (2019-2024) -South Africa Free of Substance Abuse.
The relaunch of the SheDecides and the Anti-Alcohol and Drugs Festive Season Campaign will take place at the Barolong Boo Seleka Tribal Council, Thaba Nchu, in the Free State. – SAnews.gov.za
