"One of major breakthroughs is awareness about obstetric fistula has been created both at community and healthcare level. Now women freely come to hospital to seek services which used to be a one-off," says Dr Fred Kirya, Senior Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. #ICPD25 #ICPD25ChangeHeroes #LiveYourDreamUG

Twenty-five years ago, a global revolution started in Cairo when 179 world leaders met at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and recognized that individuals have a basic human right to make free and responsible reproductive choices. The ICPD Programme of Action stressed that women's empowerment is a precondition for development. Despite progress in Africa, the quest to fulfill the ICPD promises for all remains challenging. #ICPD25

With support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) UNFPA Uganda supported partner Reach A Hand Uganda  to record a song about ending child marriage and teenage pregnancy. The title of the song ‘Baleke’ literally translated ‘Let them grow’ sends out a message with a call to give adolescent girls the chance to be just who they are; girls and not child parents! Itis an appeal to families and community members to protect adolescent girls from child marriage and allow to complete their education and live their dreams. The song features six of Uganda’s top artistes; Navio, Mun*G, Naava Grey, Nutty Neithan, Martha Smallz and Geosteady.

What can parents and communities do to join and actively support their daughters and Uganda's #LiveYourDreamUG campaign? One way is to support their children stay in school to prevent child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Marrying off children affects their education and hinders them from realizing their dreams.