The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lesotho has officially launched Turning Points: Stories of Young Lives Interrupted by Early Parenthood and Marriage, a powerful publication that brings to light the lived experiences of eight girls, all aged 15 and under, from the remote districts of Thaba-Tseka and Qacha’s Nek.
Through their voices, Turning Points exposes the harsh realities of early motherhood, child marriage, and gender-based violence (GBV), painting a sobering picture of the challenges that continue to undermine the futures of young girls in rural Lesotho.
These personal accounts reflect how deeply intertwined these issues are with poverty, inequality, and harmful social norms.
Innocent Modisaotsile, UNFPA Representative to Lesotho, emphasised that “Turning Points” is not merely a collection of stories but a demand to confront the root causes of early parenthood, child marriage, and GBV with determination and urgency.
The publication highlights how deeply rooted social norms, limited access to education, and inadequate healthcare services perpetuate these cycles.
It also underscores the pervasive role of violence, whether through forced marriage, intimate partner abuse, or structural neglect, in perpetuating these hardships.
Modisaotsile indicated that the organisation works in partnership with the government, civil society, and communities to ensure that adolescent girls have access to education, healthcare, and the necessary support to break free from cycles of violence and disadvantage.
“The booklet advocates for comprehensive sexuality education and improved access to family planning services, which are crucial for empowering adolescent girls to protect themselves from early pregnancy and GBV,’ he said.
He further stated that by sharing these courageous personal stories, such as those of Puleng, ‘Mathabo, and ‘Mampho, who faced immense challenges including rape, financial crises leading to early marriage, and societal pressures, UNFPA aims to foster understanding, spark dialogue, and inspire coordinated action.
Teenage pregnancy rates remain high, with Thaba-Tseka at 22 percent and Qacha’s Nek at 17.3 percent, both above the national average of 17percent.
This is exacerbated by a significant unmet need for family planning, particularly among adolescents, standing at 21.2 percent nationally. These alarming statistics underscore the critical challenges faced by adolescent girls in Lesotho.
The booklet also highlights the devastating impact of these issues on girls’ health, with Lesotho’s maternal mortality rate at 530 per 100,000 live births and an adolescent birth rate of 94 per 1,000 for girls aged 15-19.
Furthermore, child marriage affects an estimated 19 percent of girls in Lesotho, often leading to increased vulnerability to violence, with 36 percentof women having experienced violence from their intimate partners.
These figures paint a clear picture of the urgent need for interventions to protect and empower young girls.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
