The National Legislative Assembly's (NLA) health committee is pushing for approval of the Reproductive Health Protection Bill, which aims to curb the rate of teenage pregnancies.
The bill brings together measures which appeared in previous laws but was stalled for 13 years because agencies were worried about duplication.
Figures show the number of teenage mothers is on the rise, even though several measures have been implemented to tackle the issue, including the introduction of sex education. According to Public Health Ministry information, 54 births out of every 1,000 in 2011, involved mothers aged between 15-19 years old.
Provinces with the highest numbers of teenage pregnancies are Chon Buri, Rayong, Samut Sakhon and Prachuap Khiri Khan, according to Unicef.
Jet Siratharanon, chairman of the NLA's public health committee, told a seminar on teenage pregnancy yesterday that more needs to be done to stop the rate increasing.
"Let me be straightforward, we cannot stop teenagers from having sex. Unlike the old days, the world is changing fast so safe sex must be promoted," he said.
Sex education introduced in many schools in Thailand has failed to provide adequate preparation for teenagers' sex lives and has not equipped them with the ability to make responsible choices about sexual relationships, Dr Jet said.
Sex education should be practical and up to date. Attitudes on this matter must change, he said.
"I think Thailand should look to Sweden because they have made sex education compulsory since 1955. Their kids study all matters relating to sex, even sexually transmitted diseases. Even though we have made sex education part of the school curriculum, most teachers are embarrassed to talk about it," Dr Jet said.
"It is also necessary to teach teenage girls that they must not be pressured into sexual relationships before they are ready," he added.
Dr Jet said the pending Reproductive Health Protection Bill was an important step forward. Unplanned pregnancies in young girls have affected Thailand's human resources and development, the doctor said.
"Unintended pregnancies in adolescents have adverse effects on mothers who are not ready to have children and often have to give up their education," Dr Jet said.
Thailand has not yet made any constructive improvements on this problem, he added.
Even the prime minister considers it a matter of national importance, he said.
"Everybody, including teenagers, has the right to receive sexual and reproductive health care. We have to make sure that all people who want the service can get it," Dr Jet said.
The bill focuses on protecting the rights of teenagers with unwanted pregnancies, and enables them to continue their studies.
Legal action will not be enough to solve the problem of unwanted teenage pregnancies because it is a social matter, said Pornpan Bunyarathapan, chairman of the National Reform Council's committee on health reform.
"Change should begin with family," she said.
Thais' traditional attitudes and cultural mores make discussions about sex difficult, Ms Pornpan said.
Most unwanted teenage pregnancies are the result of sexual assaults or rape — sometimes by family members, said Pranorm Praditkamjornchai, director-general of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry's women welfare protection department.
The seminar was organised by the NLA's committee on public health, the NRC's committee on public reform, the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation.