‘’ Pregnancy in schools : what is the legal solution ?’’ : this was the issue at the centre of a presentation made by the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday, 13 April 2016, at Toulepleu Secondary Modern School, situated at some 615 kilometres Abidjan.

The presentation was made during a conference initiated by the Fédération estudiantine et scolaire de Toulepleu (FEST) – Federation of Students and Pupils of Toulepleu with the aim of sensitising pupils on the harmful effects of pregnancy in school with the slogan : « zero pregnancy in schools ».

In his presentation, UNOCI Human Rights Officer Clément Dago outlined the various legal instruments which contain child protection, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989 signed by Côte d’Ivoire on 28 September 1990, African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child of July 1990 signed by Côte d’Ivoire in 2002.

Mr. Dago also cited the Constitution of 1st August 2000 in which the Ivorian State makes a commitment to protect children, as well as the Law 70-483 of 7 August 1970 on minors. He then explained the penal sanctions and actions undertaken to ensure effective child protect against pregnancy which constitutes one of the main reasons for girls dropping out of school in the department of Toulepleu. He concluded by making plea for all actors in the education system to contribute to the fight against this phenomenon by denouncing those responsible.

For the president of FEST, Ambroise Guei, the aim of the sensitisation session is contribute to the fight against pregnancy among school girls. He therefore urged pupils, parents, teachers and school officials to become fully involved in the fight against this phenomenon.

According to the official in charge of discipline at the school, Mariam Dosso Diarra, expressed her joy at the fact that the Toulepleu Secondary Modern School was chosen to host this conference. She thanked UNOCI for its support and assistance and FEST for its initiative which will contribute to putting a stop to this phenomenon.

In her contribution, Mrs Diarra focused on the impact of early pregnancy in the life of a young gril and the statistics at Toulepleu Secondary Modern School. She said there had been 32 cases of school pregnancy during the school year 2012-2013 ; 27 in 2013-2014 and 27 again in 2014-2015. In total there were 86 cases during the last three years, 33 of which involved girls abandoning school and one death while giving birth. During the current school year 30 cases of pregnancy have already been registered. The perpetrators are generally local workers, pupils and drivers of motor-taxis, she explained.