Underage mothers could benefit from more rights

Underage mothers will benefit directly from the financial rights they are entitled to and will be able to make decisions about their own child, according to a bill adopted today by the Chamber of Deputies, as the decision-making body.

The final vote on the document is scheduled for tomorrow, reports RRA editor Iulia Gherman.

Situations that can lead to the maintenance or prolongation of abuse of underage mothers by parents or life partners must be eliminated, believes PNL MP Mara Calista.

Until now, unfortunately, decisions were taken by fathers who, for the most part, were of age or by their parents and I believe that, if we recognise these mothers as mothers, we must also give them all the rights that are due to them and the possibility for them to take decisions for their own children.

One in eight underage mothers is not registered with their family doctor, and 23% of them did not go to the doctor's check-up when they were pregnant - these are some of the data from the largest national survey conducted by Save the Children Romania.

Translated by: Radu Matei