Pregnancy jeopardizes the rights, health, education and potential of far too many adolescent girls, robbing them of a better future. Action must be taken to prevent "children having children", as we are commemorating World Population Day 2013 on Thursday, which focuses on adolescent pregnancy.

Around the world, about 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth each year. In developing countries, 19 out of 100 girls give birth by the age of 18 and three give birth before the age of 15. Complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls in this age group, especially in developing countries.

Millions of teenage girls across the world are, or will be, practicing unsafe sex, and far too many lack access to information, contraceptives and basic education in the fundamentals of sexual and reproductive health. If young people are able to receive age-appropriate and comprehensive sex education, they will develop the knowledge and skills they need to protect their health throughout their lives. If young people can access good quality youth-friendly sexual and reproductive services, they will be able to make informed choices to keep them healthy. The opportunities and choices girls have during adolescence will enable them to begin adulthood as empowered and active citizens.

Adolescent pregnancy is an important development issue that goes beyond the health of young people. It is deeply rooted in poverty, high levels of income inequality, violence, the practice of child and forced marriage in some countries, lack of education, and the failure of systems and institutions to protect their rights. Related to this, but highly determinant, are the unequal power relations between adolescent girls and their male partners in male-dominated societies.

With changing social values, young people in China are exposed to increasing reproductive health risks, including unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections including HIV. A survey, supported by the United Nations Population Fund, on access to and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by unmarried youth aged 15 to 24 in China, showed that even though the majority of unmarried youth are open to having sex before marriage, only a very small portion of them - less than 5 percent, are well informed about reproductive health. Less than 15 percent had correct knowledge about preventing HIV infection.