Sex isn't something most of us feel open and comfortable talking to our kids about - but in reality, from a young age, many of them are already sexually aware, and engaging in sexual activity, leaving some very young girls pregnant.
Statistics show that teenage pregnancies are on the rise. So the representatives from the United Nations Populations Fund and the office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children are working on a plan to address this issue. Courtney Weatherburne has more details.
Ishell West, Young Parent
"I was 14 years old when I got pregnant, had my child at 15 years I joined the youth enhancement services program where I must say they helped me mentally and physically and now today I am a proud graduate from high school where I now think I will pursue my goals in tertiary education if I don't leave the country."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Many teenaged mothers can relate to Ishell West's story. She overcame her challenges and is making a better life for herself and her 2 year old daughter Isheykel Zelaya. But not all teen mom stories have happy endings.
So today the coordinators of the World Population Day 2017 say there must be a greater focus on preventing adolescent pregnancy through sexuality education and health services.
Tisa Grant, Liason Officer, UNFPA
"The theme is Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations and so the whole purpose of today is to zero in on the need for access to sexual and reproductive health services including family planning services for women, girls and adolescents given the situation we have in Belize with adolescent pregnancy we are taking that approach of focusing on that specific target population."
The goal is a 20 percent decrease in teenage pregnancy by 2019. But the latest statistics are not looking promising.
Tisa Grant, Liason Officer, UNFPA
"According to the last MICS 2015, we are at 74 per 1,000 population and the MICS prior to that in 2011 it was saying 64 per 1,000 population so it is indicating a bit of an increase."
So there is a lot of work to do to achieve that goal. Grant says it will take a coordinated effort to devise interventions and strategies to reach out to these young girls before they turn into teen moms:
Tisa Grant, Liason Officer, UNFPA
"It requires a multi-sectoral approach and a multi-pronged approach and so the forum today is to have a discussions and if you notice our audience is primarily young people because we want to hear from them what they think are the interventions necessary to address this issue that they are having."
While the main focus is prevention of teen pregnancies, it is also important to care for and support those struggling young moms.
Ishell West, Young Parent
"Teen mom is fun I am not saying you should go have a child being a teen but don't let anything bring you down."
Other topics discussed are violence and abuse of adolescent girls and boys, child marriage and access to social and legal protection.
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