“Childhood Must Never Be Derailed by Motherhood”: Dianne Stewart on UNFPA’s ‘State of the World Population 2013’

Summary: Twenty thousand girls under the age of 18 give birth each day, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Two million girls age 14 or younger give birth each year. Societal norms often frame adolescent pregnancy as the result of promiscuous behavior, but this year’s State of the World Population Report encourages “a shift away from interventions targeted at the girl toward broad-based approaches that build girls’ human capital, protect girls’ rights, and empower them to make decisions,” says Dianne Stewart, director of the information and external relations division of UNFPA, in this week’s podcast. “When a girl’s behavior is erroneously seen as the problem, changing her behavior may be wrongly seen as the sole solution,” Stewart says. “The reality is that pregnancy often has less to do with girls’ personal behavior and more to do with the behavior of their families, their communities, and governments.” Stewart argues that the vast majority of adolescent pregnancies are not the result of poor decisions or risky behavior, but a lack of control. “Really, adolescent pregnancy equals powerlessness,” explains Stewart. The report notes that 9 out of 10 mothers under the age of 18 are married. “Girls who have no say about whether, to whom, and when they marry likely have no say about whether or when to begin childbearing.” The report’s recommendations include better access to education for girls; youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health information centers; new legislation against child marriage and proper enforcement of legislation where it already exists; creating an atmosphere of equity at a young age for boys and girls; and community support for girls who do become pregnant. UNFPA believes that “childhood must never be derailed by motherhood,” Stewart concludes.  Stewart spoke at the Wilson Center on October 30. Friday podcasts are also available for download on iTunes.