Heather Bellamy spoke with James Mildred, the Media and Communications Officer for CARE.

James: Yes, the number of unwanted pregnancies and the number of abortions has in fact been going down. And some people might argue, "Well look, yes it's bad that these under-age girls have been given these long-acting implants, but let's be grateful that there are fewer unwanted pregnancies; let's be grateful that there are fewer abortions". To which I would say, "Yes, absolutely, that's a good thing, but, the fact that these girls have made the decision to have safe sex, under-age, does not make the fact they're having sex okay".

We mustn't just shrug out shoulders and accept this. We mustn't just take the line that they've made an informed choice and we should be patting them on the back. No we shouldn't, instead, what we should be doing is we should be recognising this is a very real problem. Young people at that age are not ready in the main to have sexual relations. We need to be protecting the sanctity of sex and sending a message to young people that they do not need to be going down this route; that it is better, healthier, safer and less risky if they wait and practise sex in a long-term committed relationship, when they are over the legal age of consent.

Heather: If the Government's compiled this information, have they made any comment on the figures?

James: As far as I can see, they simply refer people to the fact that the number of unwanted pregnancies and number of abortions have fallen. As I've just articulated, while I think that's a good thing, that doesn't mean that we should simply accept the fact that so many under-age girls have been given these implants and long-acting injections in order to facilitate illegal sex.

Heather: So what response would you want to see the Government make?

James: There needs to be a vast improvement in the provision of sex and relationship education across our country. The current provision is not acceptable.

While I do not want to see sex and relationships education centralised, I think that the current model where it is decided at a local level is the best model, we need to be improving that model. We need to be empowering parents so they are as involved as possible. We need to be respectful of the fact that the best place for sex education to take place is not actually within the classroom first and foremost, but in the homes where parents are informing their children and then that has to be backed up by what's taught in the classrooms.

So we need to see improvements to the provision of sex and relationships education; we need a much clearer and stronger message to young people that it is not wise, clever, or mature - it is in fact a sign of immaturity to be practising sex at such young age and, it is better to wait until they're in a committed relationship and of the legal-age of consent.