Help young women in Ulaanbaatar access support groups to learn to protect and advocate for their rights.
Why we care: High rates of adolescent pregnancy, sexual violence, maternal mortality, and sexually transmitted infections in Mongolia threaten the health of young women.
How we’re solving this: Providing reproductive health services, support groups, and education for young women, so they can protect their health.
In Mongolia, nearly half the population is under the age of 20. Adolescent girls, particularly in isolated rural areas, face high risks of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), becoming pregnant, and experiencing sexual violence. With these obstacles, fewer women graduate from school, enter the work force, and gain leadership positions in their communities or nation.
The “Princess” Center for the Protection of Girls and Young Women’s Rights—located in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia—knows how critical it is to provide young women with accurate reproductive health information and services so they will never have to face these threats.
The Princess Center has a staff comprised of female social workers, lawyers, and educators who are trained in leadership and women’s rights to mentor and counsel teenage mothers and survivors of sexual abuse. Women mentees are also trained to advocate for their rights as a tool to develop positive community attitudes towards women’s leadership. This year women will gain power, confidence, and agency by participating in numerous transformational activities, including:
- Mentor and emotional support clubs that meet monthly and provide education on pregnancy prevention and protection against STIs, and counseling to help women overcome trauma from violence.
- Trainings for young mothers on sexual health will teach women about their sexual rights, STI/HIV/AIDS, parenting, and self-confidence.
- Vocational and life skills training for young mothers to gain economic independence.
- Awareness raising campaigns and theatrical performances to provide opportunities for women to voice their experiences as teen mothers.
- A women-run counseling hotline to provide support and advice to women survivors of violence.
- Social work and fundraising training to young women university students preparing them to provide excellent counseling to young mothers and mobilize more resources for critical reproductive health services.
The Princess Center offers women the skills, knowledge, and support required to create social change that will put an end to violence and early pregnancy.