The Programme on Out-of-School Reproductive Health Education for adolescents and young people, implemented in 2023 and 2024, is part of a global UNFPA program supported by the Government of Norway in 12 countries worldwide, including the Republic of Moldova. International and national studies confirm that comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education influences positively the development of children and adolescents, by developing their knowledge and skills for growing up in a healthy, harmonious, and responsible manner and avoiding risky behaviors, which can also lead to school drop-out or absenteeism.
Over the past decades, our country has been characterized by high rates of risky behaviors among adolescents and young people, such as substance use, sexually transmitted infections, violence, unplanned pregnancies, and teenage abortions, which affect the sexual and reproductive health of the younger generation. Thus, the teenage pregnancy rate, although it dropped in the last 4-5 years by about 25%, remains one of the highest in the European region (22.9 births per 1000 women aged 15-19 in Moldova compared to 9 births in the European Union).
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, HIV incidence among young people aged 15-25 has increased in recent years from 14.9 cases per 100,000 population to 19 cases per 100,000 in 2020. The Republic of Moldova also maintains one of the highest rates of STIs among young people in countries from Middle Asia and Western Europe.
The new program on out-of-school education launched by UNFPA will include several critical interventions aimed at responding to these phenomena and continuing Moldova’s progress toward ensuring reproductive health and rights. The program will focus in particular on supporting civil society organizations to build their capacity in sexual and reproductive health and to conduct information activities in this area. At the same time, vulnerable rural, refugee, and disabled young people will be supported to develop healthy life skills and make informed choices about their reproductive health.
According to Ludmila Sîrbu, Programme Analyst on Youth at UNFPA Moldova, the lack of knowledge on sexual and reproductive health among adolescents exposes them to many risks, such as sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, and consequently, lower chances of personal and professional development and higher vulnerability particularly of adolescent girls. ‘We want to empower young people to be able to make informed decisions in their favor, and through this program, we will reach different categories of young people with information and support regarding their reproductive health’, said Ludmila Sîrbu.
Under this Programme, several partner organizations will conduct activities for young people and parents.
MOTIVATIE Association of Moldova will organize information sessions and discussion clubs with adolescents and young people with disabilities and their families to discuss family planning, reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, harmonious communication, violence prevention, bodily autonomy, etc. They will also raise awareness among member organizations of the Alliance of Organisations of People with Disabilities about the importance of promoting reproductive health and rights.
The Moldova Project will carry out information sessions for adolescents in several districts and localities, as well as a campaign to document and promote the best practices and success stories on reproductive health identified during the project.
Pro Didactica Educational Center and Youth Media Center will reach out with reproductive health programs to refugee youth participating in the activities of several Safe Spaces for Youth, established by UNFPA as part of the response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis
In June, representatives from partner organizations participated in an initial training program for facilitators on adolescent and youth reproductive health, and four more training sessions will take place by the end of the year according to their training needs.
The Programme on Out-of-School Reproductive Health Education for adolescents and young people is implemented with the financial support of the Government of Norway / Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest, as part of a global UNFPA program in 12 countries around the world, including Moldova.
