SRHR about the power to make informed choices, says World YWCA at Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights

The conference that runs from February 8-12, 2009 is part of a long-term process of building and fostering regional dialogue on sexual health and rights that lead to concrete action to influence policy. The World YWCA delegation of women and young women leaders from 8 African YWCAs developed the statement at a planning consultation held over the weekend to strategise for effective implementation of programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV in Africa. The consultation organised and facilitated by the World YWCA, with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation was an opportunity to strengthen the African response to SRHR and HIV, especially around critical issues affecting young women in Africa.

The statement entitled ‘ The Power to make Informed choices’ says that ‘ Women and girls are subjected to rape, female genital cutting, unprotected sex for both commercial and traditional practices. Almost always this leads to teenage and unintended pregnancies; unsafe abortion, gender based violence, unplanned families, increase in maternal mortality, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), HIV and AIDS and other related psychological abuses. The inequalities facing women and girls must be urgently addressed. This is critical and calls for immediate action that can promote prevention, reduce stigma and discrimination, provide access to affordable and accessible Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information, services and treatment.’

The YWCAs taking part in the meeting include Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Tanzania.

THE POWER TO MAKE INFOMED CHOICES

YWCA’s STATEMENT TO THE 4^TH AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

FEBRUARY 8- 12, 2010

ADDIS ABABA

Globally, especially in Africa women and girls continue to be challenged by different forms of discrimination that violate their human rights and other specific rights inclusive of their sexual and reproductive rights. At the same time women are also leading change in communities.

As eight YWCAs[1] meeting in Addis Ababa, we represent the World YWCA. The YWCA is in 22 000 communities around the world and in 34 countries in Africa, informed by research, experience and testimonies, we strongly affirm that the intersectionality between poverty, HIV and AIDS and violence against women and girls should not be underemphasized.

Women and girls are subjected to rape, female genital cutting, unprotected sex for both commercial and traditional practices. Almost always this leads to teenage and unintended pregnancies; unsafe abortion, gender based violence, unplanned families, increase in maternal mortality, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), HIV and AIDS and other related psychological abuses. The inequalities facing women and girls must be urgently addressed. This is critical and calls for immediate action that can promote prevention, reduce stigma and discrimination, provide access to affordable and accessible Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information, services and treatment.

Safe, secure, inclusive and friendly spaces for women, young women and girls are essential, to celebrate sexual and reproductive health and rights and make informed choices regarding their lives. Implicit in building safe and secure spaces, the YWCAs recognise the role of men as agents for promoting a world where gender equality is respected and practiced. At the same time, the call for investment in empowerment for women and girls equally remains important.

We recognise the role of African governments in delivering services as defined in the existing regional and global commitments on women and girls in Africa such as:

• The African Plan of Action on SRHR
• The Africa Protocol on Women’s Rights
• The Abuja Declaration on HIV
• The Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS
• The Beijing Platform for Action on Women, Peace and Development (1985)

However we remain frustrated and deeply concerned at the lack of political will to implementation these urgent and agreed commitments.

We therefore recommit ourselves to:

• Strengthening collaboration with partners and key stakeholders on gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment at all levels
• Continue to provide SRHR and HIV information and services for women, young women and girls in our communities
• Advocate for the power of informed choice and personal decision making on SRHR as well as comprehensive prevention approaches
• Sustain and enhance the YWCAs as a safe inclusive and secure space for women and girls.

We strongly recommend governments, stakeholders and other partners to:

• Domesticate, implement and resource international, regional and national instruments relating to SRHR and HIV and AIDS that promote prevention and treatment for women and girls. Progress must be monitored and evaluated.
• Address stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV), which is unacceptable and must end. Laws and policy must protect PLHIV as members of society. Criminalisation of PLHIV violates the human rights of PLHIV.
• Promote access to information; services and safe spaces that develop the leadership and empowerment of women and girls to take make informed decisions about their SRHR.
• We also strongly recommend that all people have access to gender responsive Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and to comprehensive information, services and treatment.

The World YWCA acknowledges the David and Lucile Packard Foundations and other partners for supporting this work on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV and AIDS.

[1] YWCAs of Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia

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