The Government of Ecuador has formalized an agreement for the prevention of pregnancy in girls and adolescents, launching the Intersectoral Policy for Comprehensive Addressing of Adolescent Pregnancy 2026–2035. The policy aims to ensure the rights of children and adolescents and was developed with support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in Ecuador and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Between 2018 and 2024, Ecuador saw a significant decrease in the specific fertility rate among adolescents aged 15 to 19, dropping from 70.4 to 39.55 per thousand. Despite this progress, challenges remain: four births occur daily among girls under 14 years old, and 84 among those aged 15 to 19, according to data from INEC in 2024.
Vice President María José Pinto stated: “When we talk about adolescent pregnancy, we are not talking about numbers: we are talking about girls, broken dreams, and paths that are interrupted too soon. This policy is born from them: from their voice, their pain, their courage. And from a debt that the country can no longer postpone.”
Nataly Morillo, Minister of Government, emphasized: “From each territorial delegation gender equality is promoted as a fundamental principle of democratic coexistence because protecting girls and adolescents is protecting our country’s future. It is a historic responsibility that guides our political action and demands continuity, resources, and will.” Daniel García, Acting Minister of Human Development, added: “The first goal in this policy focuses on raising awareness about preventing adolescent pregnancy as an institutional commitment to ensure that users of our programs receive effective information, training, and guidance.”
The new policy sets measurable goals for 2035—reducing pregnancy rates among girls aged 10 to 14 to 1.81 per thousand and among adolescents aged 15 to 19 to 29.3 per thousand. Five strategic areas guide these efforts: curricular implementation of comprehensive sexuality education; strengthening health services focused on sexual and reproductive health; promoting sociocultural transformation through family engagement; establishing clear protection routes for victims of sexual violence; and ensuring financial sustainability regardless of political cycles.
Gilda Alcívar García, Minister of Education, Sport and Culture stated: “With the Todos al Aula program we have reintegrated 98,706 children, youth and adults; this figure is strong evidence of the social and educational commitment by President Daniel Noboa Azin’s government.”
The policy was shaped through a “Social Pact” involving participation from over two thousand adolescents alongside more than fifteen hundred public sector professionals across more than one hundred national meetings.
Martín Zabala, a fourteen-year-old participant noted: “The Ministry of Public Health participates actively in the educational community which demonstrates coordinated work. In our institutions healthy habits are promoted along with talks on sexual and reproductive health—spaces where we receive clear information to make responsible decisions.”
Vice President Pinto further remarked: “Today we present a policy that is not just another document—it is a clear route…a policy that combines health, education, protection justice and family; that prevents accompanies protects repairs…It does not stay on paper but includes community health centers schools neighborhoods…”
The initiative brings together multiple ministries—including Health Public Health Human Development Education Sport Culture—with PAHO/WHO support alongside UNFPA involvement.
This agreement underscores President Daniel Noboa’s administration’s priority for building a country where girls and adolescents live free from violence with real opportunities.
