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The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Rwanda, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, has expressed his disagreement with those who support allowing 15-year-olds to access family planning, saying it would encourage them to engage in sexual immorality.
Cardinal Kambanda delivered this message during the National Family Forum taking place in the Catholic Diocese of Nyundo, in Rwanda’s Western Province, beginning on August 7, 2025.
On August 4, the Chamber of Deputies in Rwanda’s Parliament passed a law regulating health services, which includes provisions on assisted reproduction and granting 15-year-old children the right to make their own decisions regarding medical services such as family planning.
The law was passed after a long debate that began in 2022 on whether to allow 15-year-olds to use birth control. In October of that year, 30 members of Parliament rejected a draft bill addressing this issue, arguing that it focused on dealing with the consequences of the problem rather than tackling its root causes.
Cardinal Kambanda argued that permitting a 15-year-old to use birth control would give them an excuse to engage in sexual activity, which in turn could lead them to neglect parental responsibilities if they eventually became parents.
He said, “Parents and educators, family planning for children is giving way to sexual immorality. Imagine a child who starts using birth control at 15. By the time they marry, how many abortions will they have already had? Will such a person truly become a responsible parent? Will they have a stable family life like a child who was raised well, grew up with dignity, and valued life?”
Cardinal Kambanda emphasized that the family is the cornerstone of life and protection, and that having a child is not enough; the child must also be nurtured and cared for.
On August 4, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, explained that campaigns had been carried out to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but they had not achieved the desired results as the number of cases remained high.
Dr. Butera noted that children born to teenage mothers often face challenges such as stunting and mental health problems, which is why preventive measures are essential.
He stated: “Thirty-eight percent of children born to these teenagers end up stunted, and understandably so. A 15-year-old is not prepared for parenthood. They have not even completed school. Once they have a child, that child faces serious problems. Beyond stunting, there are also mental health issues.”
Dr. Butera added that the Ministry of Health will issue regulations to guide how 15-year-olds will access health services, including family planning, clarifying: “This does not mean that anyone will automatically receive whatever service they request simply because this law was passed.”
