Negative effect of adolescent marriage on women’s all-round development prevails globally: Report
A joint meeting conducted by the NUEW and the UNFPA in Asmara city in connection with the release of The State of World Population 2013 underscored the negative effect of adolescent marriage on women’s all-round development that still prevails at global level.
Asmara, 31 October 2013 – A joint meeting conducted by the NUEW and the UNFPA in Asmara city in connection with the release of The State of World Population 2013 underscored the negative effect of adolescent marriage on women’s all-round development that still prevails at global level.
Speaking at the meeting in which senior Eritrean government officials, Ambassador of various countries, heads of UN agencies and invited guests took part, Ms. Leul Gebreab, Chairperson of the NUEW, pointed out that the nation has been taking concerted action on the basis of various institutions towards tacking women-related challenges. She further shed light on Eritrea’s endeavors as regards alleviating poverty and giving impetus to national development drive. She further explained that adolescent pregnancy is a manifestation of underdevelopment and unequal status regarding gender equality.
Ms. Leul went on to indicate that doing away with instances of early pregnancy called for integrated efforts on the part of communities, government bodies and associations, and urged the participants of the meeting to apply the lessons learned thereof in the pursuit of improving the livelihood of juvenile youths.
Likewise, Mr. Dan Odallo, Executive Director of the UNFPA in Eritrea, made remarks on the negative impact of adolescent pregnancy on the physical and psychological wellbeing of females, besides its restraining effect on their production capacity. He further explained that the causes of such instance should be attributed to forced marriage and absence of options, thus calling for worldwide parental awareness with a view to ensuring safe, healthy and successful transition from adolescence to adulthood.
In the course of the meeting, Aser Cultural Troupe presented artistic performances focusing on the harmful effects of early pregnancy.