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'Shameful' teen mums taken out of school

Alex Dunham
Alex Dunham - [email protected]
'Shameful' teen mums taken out of school
The region's socialists have however staunchly opposed the new law, calling it a "return to Francoism". Photo of pregnant teen at school: Shutterstock "

The Spanish region of Murcia has approved a motion that will see teenage girls who fall pregnant be taken out of high school to stop them from being shunned.

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Spearheaded by right-wing Popular Party politician Ana Guijarro, the new measure will ensure that teen mums in the southern region continue studying through distance learning.

The aim of the scheme is "that no girl who wants to continue studying has to stop doing so because they need to rest or to avoid suffering psychological trauma", Guijarro told Spanish daily 20minutos.

"I'm sure all of them (pregnant teens) will be delighted with the decision," added the 26-year-old MP, the youngest in Murcia's parliament.

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The region's socialists have however staunchly opposed the new law.
 
PSOE Equality Secretary Rosa Peñalver called it a “return to Francoism as it considers that pregnant teens should be ashamed and not leave their homes".

The Murcia division of left-wing party Izquierda Unida has also voiced its discontent through their parliamentary spokesperson José Antonio Pujante:

"They talk about pregnant teens and young mums but what about the fathers?"

"This could be seen as anti-constitutional as it goes against the principals of sexual equality. "

Murcia has the second highest rate of pregnancies for women in Spain aged under 20, at 11.11 percent of all pregnancies, according to a 2011 study by the country's national scientific research centre CSIC. 

The region's pregnancy law comes at a time when thousands of Spaniards have been rallying to voice their support and disapproval for the government's stringent new abortion plans.

If the draft law is passed, Spain’s ruling Popular Party would only allow abortion in cases of rape or if there is a threat to the mother's health.

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