“Adolescents’ access to SRHR: what can we do?
The EU stepping up for defending adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive rights and services in a globalized world
On Wednesday 6th of June, 9.30 -11 am, the Be-cause health platform co-organises a High Level panel at room A1 with the following panellists:
- Alanna J. Galati, Senior Policy Manager, Guttmacher Institute
- Nicolas Meda, Minister of Health, Burkina Faso
- Ian Askew, Director Sexual and Reproductive Health, WHO.
- Alexander De Croo, Deputy prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal Services, Belgian Federal Public Service – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Cooperation
- Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission DEVCO
- Moderator : Madam Laura Shields, Managing Director, Red Thread EU
Session description
This session brings together international experts and policy makers engaged in SRHR, EU MS and institutions to debate on Europe’s leadership that is needed to help confront the challenges in developing countries when seeking SRHR for all with a specific focus on adolescent girls.
Adolescent girls now face a double discrimination in access to SRHR being often limited to adults and/or married couples and recent cuts of international aid reducing the national capacity to provide SRHR services. Some EU MS gave a promising response in 2017 in the form of SHE DECIDES. EU institutions and MS also have programmes and policies that promote access to SRHR.
What else can be done to assist affected governments and individuals? What leadership can MS and EU develop in order to prevent countries from adopting discriminatory policies and promote enabling SRHR policies?
To achieve sustainable development, SRHR of girls and women are essential (gender equality and women empowerment). Figures of impact are available and will be displayed with infographics. The EU does provide a significant share of aid on SRHR and can increase/strengthen its role/voice to safeguard adolescent health. The EDDs provide a public forum for affected countries/governments and individuals to voice how they deal with recent budget cuts and policy changes and call on/make recommendations with regard to Europe’s role.
More information on the high level panel is available on the EDD2018 website:
https://eudevdays.eu/community/sessions/765/adolescents-access-to-srhr-what-can-we-do
Related publications and material :
http://www.prb.org/pdf17/AU%20Brief.pdf
https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/factsheet/adding-it-up-contraception-mnh-2017.pdf
Related to the session there is a report of the SRHR Lancet & Guttmacher Institute Commission: https://www.guttmacher.org/guttmacher-lancet-commission/commission-resources
TheLancet.com: http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights.
The report lays out a comprehensive, evidence-based, and bold agenda for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, building on global and regional discussions and agreements, and linking SRHR to the Sustainable Development Goals, human rights, and gender equality.
