NLA targets teen pregnancy

The 28-article draft bill included measures such as providing youngsters with proper sex education, allowing teenage mothers to continue their studies in an appropriate way until graduation, and imposing a maximum jail term of one month and/or a fine of Bt10,000 for those who refuse to help endangered teens.

The draft bill, proposed by Jate Siratharanon and 53 other NLA members, covered sexual violence, sexual assaults, premature sex and pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases. As these are issues of national-level importance that affect the rights, liberties, health, family ties and quality of life of teenagers, measures or mechanisms need to be put in place to solve the problem of teenage pregnancy.

 Deputy Public Health Minister Somsak Chunharas said the ministry would study the bill for 20 days and then submit it to the Cabinet, which would then pass it on to the NLA.