Adolescent Reproductive Health, Including HIV/AIDS
The child and adolescent health policies endorsed by the Government are concerned with the development of a healthy body and sound moral health. The government supports opportunities for reproductive and sexual health education among children and adolescents (ages 10-19). As a result of the "Healthy Mother-Healthy Child" policy and implementation of effective projects, many activities related to Adolescent Reproductive Health have been undertaken.
The "National Reproductive Programme on Student and Adolescent Health" programme was adopted through Government Resolution No. 30 in January 1997. Its implementation period is from 1997-2005. The specific objectives of the programme are, t o improve the content and methodology of training systems for strengthening student and adolescent health education and physiological development; to eliminate major diseases common among adolescents; to create a sound environment for adolescent health by increasing role of communities, organisations, families and volunteers; and t o train professionals in raising the awareness and understanding of adolescent health among teachers, school principals and the general public.
The purpose of the AIDS prevention law is to regulate social relations together with the implementation of State policy on prevention of infection of the population from AIDS, to combat AIDS, and screen, verify, treat, and control the disease and dissemination of accurate information.
The Population Policy for
the period 2010-2015 contains provisions
on the following: maternal-child health
services; reproductive health education;
and the responsibility of the Government
for the health insurance of children under
eighteen years old.
Girl's Education
Recent Mongolian Education Laws provide free and compulsory education until the age of 16. The 1999 Education Act fixed school entrance at 6, but implementation of this new policy is currently being limited to a few areas, mostly in the capital Ulaan Baatar.
In the fall of 1999, under
an agreement between the Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Enlightenment,
a reproductive health education programme
was piloted in 12 schools in Mongolia .
The curriculum is comprehensive and includes
among other things gender issues, violence,
communication, relationship skills and self-esteem.
Mongolia has achieved a range of extremely impressive outcomes with respect to girls' education. Since the transition, there has been a widening 'reverse gender gap' in secondary and tertiary education though enrolment rates of both boys and girls have fallen.
Labour and Employment
There is a Labour Law on working conditions, salary and other allowances for working adolescents. The labour law sets a minimum work age and maximum work hours for all workers. Children under age 16 are not permitted to work. Those under 18 are prohibited from doing arduous work or from working in dangerous area such as mine shafts, etc
.
Gender Issues
There is a Criminal Law on protection of adolescents from sexual violence and on their Reproductive Health and rights. A National Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child was enacted in May 1996. A National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) launched in 1993 and Law on Child Protection (1996) set important standards for children. The NPAC is under review and a new plan is being prepared.
Youth Participation
Adolescent participants
of the 'One World Conference on Population
and Development Issues' had the chance to
visit some government and NGOs working on
RH. At the end of the Conference, these
participants prepared their recommendations
for adolescents and organizations, including
the need for more information, more clinics
and sexual health at school. As a result,
there are many related policies and programmes
for adolescents that are being implemented.
Age at First Marriage
The "Marriage Law" of Mongolia states that the minimum age at first marriage is 18. The median age at first marriage was estimated to be 21.4 in 1996 (Demographic Survey, 1996) and 20.8 in 1998.
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