Improving Sexual Health and Education in Uganda
[Petition closed]
“Thanks to action by Plan supporters across the globe, I delivered a petition with 39,000 signatures to the national parliament of Uganda in March, asking the government to provide sexual health services and information for adolescents. I’m absolutely thrilled to tell you the Ugandan Government has announced it will be taking action!” Sophie, young campaigner
In Uganda today, 1 in 4 teenage girls are either pregnant or already mothers. Pregnant teenage girls are sometimes banned from attending school and are not allowed to return once they have given birth. Girls and young people in Uganda don’t have the information and services needed to protect themselves against teenage pregnancy and make informed decisions about their bodies and their future.
The government have announced that a new mentoring programme will be set up to train health workers on how to effectively provide sexual health services to young people in Uganda, thanks to the hard work of Ugandan youth campaigns and the support of Plan International’s Because I Am A Girl Campaign.
I’M VISITING LONDON TO SPEAK TO DECISION MAKERS
In July the UK Government will be hosting a global summit where worldwide policymakers and advocates will be meeting to discuss global access to family planning.
In 2012 the world came together to promise that family planning services would reach 24 million more women by 2020. But we’re off track to meet that target, and that’s not right.
I’m coming to London to speak about this important issue at the Family Planning Summit. Having access to contraceptives and sexual health services should be a universal right not a lottery. Sign our petition asking the Secretary of State for International Development to step up commitment to improve global access to sexual health services and information for girls around the world.
If a woman is not informed, she’s not empowered
People used to say those girls got pregnant because they associated themselves with girls who were bad and they had bad manners. I was told they were a bad omen. But that’s not true.
Discover why Sophie is bravely campaigning for girls to improve sexual health education and services in Uganda so girls have control over their bodies and future.
I didn't have the knowledge to have safe sex
"My name is Annet and I was 16 when I had my baby. I was forced to get a boyfriend who promised me to pay the school fees and give me my basic needs.
"I would have liked to get the knowledge about contraceptives and negotiating for safe sex. Then I wouldn’t have got pregnant.
"After I had my baby I wanted to go back to school but I didn’t have any money to pay for child care.
"Now I advocate for young girls to keep them at school and achieve their dreams."
Young people in solidarity
From Liberia to Malawi to the UK, young people show their solidarity for our campaign to give girls better access to sexual health services in Uganda.