Refugee Girls Report ‘Torture’ of Early Pregnancy Due to COVID School Closures
Nov. 25, 2021
Uganda Survey
The group of 400 girls aged between 10-24 told War Child about the devastating impact of more than 80 weeks of on-and-off lockdown and school closures. All girls involved in the survey were heavily pregnant.
Our findings reveal that the majority (75%) of the girls became pregnant during school closures this year while only 25% became pregnant while at school during partial re-opening. Asked how they had become pregnant, they cited ‘being out of school for a long period of time’ as the main contributing factor. This was followed by a lack of basic needs and a lack of sex education, among others.
Psychological Torture
As a whole, the survey found that the longer children - especially children in refugee settlements - are out of school, the less likely they are to ever return. Over a quarter (26%) of the girls said they would not return to school after giving birth for reasons including early marriage, unaffordable education or simply the fact that they had no one to care for their child whilst at school. They also referred to stigma - the fear of being shamed by their schoolmates.
Psychological torture - the intentional infliction of severe mental pain or suffering - was presented as one of the worst effects of unplanned pregnancy.
Violation of Human Rights
Although not all psychological torture involves the use of physical violence, there is a continuum between the two. A growing number of studies show that millions of adolescent girls worldwide experience forced sexual intercourse or other sexual acts at some point in their lifetime. Almost one-fifth of all girls in Africa become pregnant before reaching adulthood.
On top of the trauma this inflicts, it’s a direct violation of their fundamental rights. Our assessment clearly revealed a high rate of pregnancy among girls under the age of 18.
Increased Risks to Girls in Conflict
With COVID-19 showing no sign of abating and all types of gender-based violence on the rise worldwide, women and girls in war zones and refugee camps remain one of the most vulnerable.
Uganda - home to the largest number of refugees in Africa - is case in point. While it’s refugee policy is one of the world’s most progressive, the increasing economic strain on families - in addition to ongoing school closures - is leading to an increase in everything from child labour to early marriage, domestic abuse and crime.
This must end. Since the pandemic, War Child has been working to create a safe haven within communities. In Uganda, we do this through psychosocial support interventions like TeamUp as well as distance learning and community sensitization initiatives. Our dream is that all children can live the life they want. Free to play. Free to grow. Free to be.
