Teenage Mother Schooling Resumption
Online petition to allow teenage mothers to resume schooling
Led by
Petrider Paul, youth activist
Scope
National (Tanzania)
Stakeholders targeted
Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Youth rights in focus
Right to education for young women, and teenage mothers in particular
Main objectives
To allow teenage mothers to return to education, reversing an earlier decree
Key outcomes
Support for the online petition with over 100,000 signature, resulting in a government decision to allow teenage mothers to access education in 2020 through alternative education pathways
Success factors
- Use of online petition platform that is free and easily accessible
- Social media platforms as an advocacy tool
- International support from human rights defenders
Challenges
Intimidation, particularly from people suggesting it was possible to be silenced or detained for opposing a Presidential decree
Lessons learned
- Youth advocates / young human rights defenders need protection mechanisms to ensure that they are safe and secure while advocating for human rights
- Avoid confrontational styles or approaches, particularly when communicating about human rights issues or work
