Contact: Elise Mann
Aspen Global Health and Development
The Aspen Institute
202-322-8142 | elise.mann@aspeninstitute.org
GLOBAL LEADERS HONOR PERU FOR MULTISECTORAL PLAN TO PREVENT ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY
2014 Resolve Award Recognizes Innovative New Policy
Geneva, May 20, 2014 – Today the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health (GLC) presents the 2014 Resolve Award for reproductive health policy development to the Peruvian government. The Honorable Midori de Habich, Minister of Health, will accept the award at a ceremony celebrating Resolve Award recipients during the 67th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Resolve Award honors the leadership of country governments for expanding access to essential reproductive health services and recognizes Peru’s commitment to advancing the reproductive health of adolescent girls with the Multisectoral Plan to Prevent Adolescent Pregnancy.
“The adolescent pregnancy rate in Peru has been the same since 1996,” said Dr. Maria Calle, Director of Adolescent and Youth Programs in Peru’s Ministry of Health. “Too often, when adolescent girls have babies, they don’t finish school, and they can only find jobs with lower incomes – that is the reality. We recognized we needed a new approach to address these challenges.”
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, ten government ministries, regional and local governments, civil society, and youth organizations collaborated and gave input to create the Multisectoral Plan to Prevent Adolescent Pregnancy. It contains five broad objectives which contribute to reducing adolescent pregnancy: delaying sexual debut among adolescents, encouraging the completion of secondary education on time, incorporating comprehensive sexuality education at the national level, increasing the use of modern contraceptive methods among sexually active adolescents and reducing violence in all its forms.
“Our plan is multisectoral because many government agencies recognize that addressing adolescent pregnancy is not just about leaving out condoms,” said Dr. Calle. “It is also about things like chances for decent employment, and funds for completing education.”
The GLC is a group of sixteen sitting and former heads of state, high-level policymakers and other leaders who build political leadership for increased financial and technical support for reproductive health. The GLC selects Resolve Award receipents through a competitive global nominations process. In addition to Peru, Tanzania is also recognized with a Resolve Award for service delivery, with special mentions to Cambodia and Afghanistan.
The Award will be presented by Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, GLC member, and global champion for women and girls, at a ceremony held at Domaine de Penthes.
“Peru and other Resolve Award winners can inspire other countries,” says Dr. Kanyoro. “Their work recognizes that reproductive health is connected to a broad range of development objectives, including education, livelihoods, and security. The 2014 Resolve Award recipients are bringing fresh approaches to the table, such as engaging multiple sectors in strategies that meet the needs of young people.”
As the global conversation shifts to the priorities that the post-2015 development agenda will hold, Peru and other Resolve Award winners are pointing the way forward. “The Resolve Award recipients show us the importance of universal access to reproductive health and rights, and effective strategies for making progress toward that goal,” says Dr. Kanyoro.
View the webcast of the ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on May 20, 2014 at www.aspeninstitute.org/live and participate via Twitter by following @GLCRHresolve and #ResolveAward.
