The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has launched a week-long campaign in secondary schools to raise awareness about children’s rights and the need to prevent teenage pregnancies.

The campaign, which started on October 5, 2026, is being conducted in secondary schools across Ngoma, Rulindo, Bugesera, Nyanza and Gisagara districts.

The campaign aims to equip students with knowledge about human rights, particularly children’s rights, and help them understand how teenage pregnancies affect adolescents, children and families.

The campaign comes amid concerns over the rising rate of teenage pregnancies in Rwanda. According to the 2025 survey cited by NCHR, the proportion of girls aged 15–19 who had begun childbearing increased from five per cent in 2020 to eight per cent in 2025.

During the sessions, NCHR is reminding students that every child has the right to protection and to grow in a safe and supportive environment.

Students are also being introduced to four key principles of children’s rights: non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, the right to life and development, and the right to be heard.

Addressing the causes of teenage pregnancies

The sessions highlight several factors that can contribute to teenage pregnancies, including alcohol and drug abuse, poverty, peer pressure, limited access to accurate reproductive health information and sexual violence.

NCHR is also calling on parents to have open and age-appropriate conversations with their children about reproductive health and bodily changes, so that young people can access reliable information and make informed decisions.

Teenage pregnancies threaten children’s rights

NCHR says teenage pregnancies can have far-reaching consequences for both the adolescent mother and the child.

These may include disruption of education, challenges in accessing family care and adequate living conditions, and risks to the child’s right to life and healthy development.

The Commission says preventing teenage pregnancies requires the involvement of everyone, including students, parents, schools, government institutions and partners.

Through the campaign, NCHR is encouraging students to understand and protect children’s rights and play an active role in preventing teenage pregnancies in their communities.