A Proven Track Record: The ENIA Plan’s Impact

Argentina’s National Plan for the Prevention of Non-Intentional Pregnancy in Adolescence (ENIA Plan), launched in 2017, has demonstrated remarkable success in curbing teenage pregnancies. Spearheaded initially during the Macri management and further developed under Alberto Fernández, the ENIA Plan targeted provinces with the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy, including Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones, Chaco, Formosa, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta, Jujuy, and Buenos Aires Province.

Autonomous assessments, including a recent report by UN Women, have lauded the plan’s effectiveness. The report highlighted a significant decline in the adolescent fertility rate.

In 2019, the fertility rate between 15 and 19 years that was located in 40.6 (living born per 1,000 women) was reduced to 25.2 in 2022. Conversely,between 10 and 14 years – which is presumed to be pregnancies due to abuse and sexual coercion -,the rate in 2019 amounted to 1.1 and in 2022 it descended to 0.6.
UN Women Report, April 2025

This data underscores a considerable improvement in adolescent reproductive health outcomes.

Salta’s Success Story: A Microcosm of National Progress

The province of Salta provides a compelling example of the ENIA plan’s positive impact at the local level. A study by the Provincial Government, published in late 2023, revealed a notable decrease in pregnancies among girls and young women aged 10 to 19, falling from 17.5% in 2019 to 14.8% in 2023. Salta’s Health Minister further reported a decline in the pregnancy rate per thousand inhabitants,showcasing a consistent downward trend from 2018 to 2022.

Funding Cuts Threaten Progress

Despite its proven success, the ENIA Plan faces an uncertain future under the current administration of President Javier Milei. Reports indicate significant defunding of the program and the dismissal of key personnel, raising concerns about the sustainability of the gains achieved.

Ombudsman Seeks Judicial Intervention

In response to these developments, the National Ombudsman for Girls, Children and Adolescents has taken legal action, requesting a court order to compel the Ministry of Health to reinstate the ENIA Plan with adequate funding, staffing, resources, and training programs. The Ombudsman argues that dismantling the plan violates the sexual and reproductive rights of young people, hindering their access to vital services that prevent unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual abuse.

Judge Martin Cormick of the Federal Administrative Court No. 11 has accepted the Amparo appeal filed by Marisa Graham, the defender of the rights of girls, boys, and adolescents, along with Juan Facundo Hernández and lawyer Nicolás Sipioni.

The dismantling of the Plan enia “injures sexual and reproductive rights” of girls, boys and adolescents and “prevents them from accessing benefits of vital importance that will guarantee them to avoid unwanted pregnancies; sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse”.

The Broader Context: Adolescent Pregnancy in Argentina

adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health concern in Argentina, with potential long-term consequences for both the young mothers and their children. According to recent data from UNICEF, teenage mothers are more likely to experience lower educational attainment, reduced economic opportunities, and poorer health outcomes. The ENIA Plan represented a crucial step towards addressing this challenge, and its potential dismantling raises serious concerns about the future of adolescent reproductive health in the country.