Positive Developments in the Discrimination of Teen Mothers.

In 2015, Sierra Leone saw a rapid rise in teenage pregnancies, with 3 in 10 girls aged 15-19 either pregnant or having birthed a child. This is attributed to the Ebola outbreak which started in 2014. The pandemic caused widespread poverty, as well as a surge in rape cases and abuse. The community is very traditional and pregnant teens were widely discriminated against and outcast, especially by school peers and sometimes even disowned by family members.

Some young women are routinely coerced into sex by men who promise to offer financial support for their education, including school and exam fees, uniform, and textbooks. These men also seldom take responsibility for said pregnancies, leaving girls with limited options when it comes to child support. Girls rarely return to school as they have nobody to watch over their child.

Following the rapid rise in pregnancies, the government enforced a law banning pregnant females from attending mainstream school. They are believed to be a bad influence on their peers, and it has been suggested that they cannot handle relentless bullying and arduous schoolwork because of their condition. Schoolgirls were being submitted to having their bodies felt for signs of pregnancy and forced to submit urine samples for tests.

Alternative learning centres were opened for the girls kicked out of school, they focused on tailoring, catering, and hairdressing. Itasu is an 18-year-old girl who said in an interview with BBC News that she dreamed of being a doctor, but since becoming pregnant and leaving school, she has opted for hairdressing and is unlikely to complete her education. Some African countries that ban pregnant girls from school include Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.

The law was overturned almost exactly a year ago, on the 30^th of March 2020. It was a long road for Human Rights groups who filed a case against Sierra Leone with the West African top court in 2018. The court ruled in favour of the Human Rights groups, and the government of Sierra Leone have said they plan to replace the ban with policies focusing on racial inclusion and comprehensive safety.

The hope is that teenage mothers will be able to receive an equal education to their peers so that they can support their children financially, and study to become teachers, doctors, nurses, scientists etc, which will in turn strengthen the economy and hopefully lead to a decrease in unplanned teen pregnancies so young women’s options are less limited.