Johannesburg - Every minute of every day at least 140 babies are born across the globe, many to under-age girls, some of whom have been forced into child marriages.
As the world celebrated being 7 billion-strong on World Population Day on Monday, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has encouraged the international community to focus on this year's theme: Investing in teenage girls.
“Teenage girls around the world face enormous challenges. Many are considered by their communities or parents to be ready for marriage and motherhood,” the UNFPA said in a statement.
Many of these girls were forced out of school, damaging their future prospects, said UNFPA executive director Dr Babatunde Osotimehin.
“Even among girls who stay in school, access to basic information about their health, human rights and reproductive rights can be hard to come by, leaving them vulnerable to illness, injury and exploitation.
"These challenges are exacerbated among marginalised girls, such as members of ethnic minorities or those living in poverty or remote areas,” Osotimehin said.
According to recent statistics released by UNFPA, in developing countries around 20 000 girls under 18 give birth daily.
This amounts to about 7.3 million births a year.
In addition, in developing countries, one in every three girls is married off before reaching 18, while one in nine is married under 15.
Osotimehin said that despite child marriage being a human rights violation and the laws against it, the practice remained widespread.
“In part, this is because of persistent poverty and gender inequality.”
He said it was important for teenage girls to be empowered and that was the main focus of this year's theme.
“When they know about their rights and are given the tools to succeed, they become agents of positive change in their communities.”
UNFPA’s programmes aim to end child marriage, curb adolescent pregnancy, and empower girls to make informed choices about their health and lives.
In 2015 alone, UNFPA programmes helped 11.2 million girls between the ages of 10 and 19 gain access to sexual and reproductive health services and information.
“Leaders and communities must focus on, and stand up for, the human rights of the most marginalised teenage girls, particularly those who are poor, out of school, exploited, or subjected to harmful traditional practices, including child marriage,” Osotimehin said.
“Marginalised girls are vulnerable to poor reproductive health and more likely to become mothers while still children themselves.
“They have a right to understand and control their own bodies and shape their own lives,” he said.