How UNFPA is helping protect indigenous Paraguayan youths against adolescent pregnancy

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – "I always say that culture has saved us from many things, but in the name of culture, many girls have died at the hands of men," Irene Vera Portillo told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

Ms. Portillo belongs to the Ava Guaraní ethnic group, one of 19 indigenous peoples living across Paraguay. At 20 years old, she is a staunch defender of human rights for her community, made up of more than 17,000 Ava Guaraní spread across the country.

As in many other societies, indigenous people in Paraguay are affected by marginalization that drives rights violations and breaches of bodily autonomy. Women and girls are especially vulnerable: Research shows three in every four indigenous Paraguayan women aged 20 to 24 were married or in union before age 18, and 10 per cent of indigenous adolescents aged 15 to 19 have had at least one child.

“Every girl has a vision of what her life will bring,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “Yet, for millions of girls, adolescence is a time when doors slam shut. The gradual transition to adulthood is ended abruptly as early pregnancy and gender-based violence, including harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation, deprive them of their fundamental rights and choices.”

“On this International Day of the Girl and every day, let’s work to eliminate all the barriers that keep adolescent girls from reaching their full potential, and heed their call for the freedom to live in peace and determine their own life’s course.”

Life-saving information

The stakes are high for addressing child and adolescent pregnancy in indigenous communities in Paraguay, as girls aged 10 to 19 face almost five times the risk of dying due to pregnancy and childbirth as non-indigenous counterparts, according to an analysis carried out by UNFPA. 

“In my community, machismo is still very much alive and women continue to be victims of violence, without knowing where to turn when they need medical attention or legal advice,” Jera Mirῖ, a 25-year-old Mbya Guaraní woman, told UNFPA in 2023.

It can also be hard to access information on sexual and reproductive health. “Teenagers do not know how to protect themselves so as not to get pregnant,” said 31-year-old Gloria Benítez, who belongs to the Nivaclé group. 

Addressing these challenges requires tackling the stigma and shame often attached to conversations around sexuality and exploitation, especially as eight in ten cases of sexual abuse in Paraguay occur in family environments, according to national data. 

“Girls must be protected,” Ms. Benítez said. “Many are victims within their own home.”

Letting girls lead

Around the world, comprehensive sexuality education has been proven to be one of the most effective means of informing young people about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Research indicates it reduces rates of adolescent pregnancy and leads young people to practice safer sex.

When implemented correctly, comprehensive sexuality education is taught by trusted community experts and adapted to young people’s age, culture and circumstances. In Paraguay, UNFPA has partnered with indigenous community leaders to host culturally appropriate conversations for adolescents to learn about modern contraceptives and more. 

“Since last year, through the Ministry of Public Health, adolescents in our community who have already had a child have been able to access implants as a method to prevent new pregnancies at an early age,” said Ayoreo woman Alejandra Uneai.

Such measures enable young women to fulfill their potential and make a choice when it comes to motherhood, while still embracing their culture and customs. 

“We must maintain our culture so that we can continue defending ourselves as indigenous peoples, because without identity and culture we would be nothing,” said Jera Mirῖ.