AWLN STATEMENT
TO THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
INVEST IN WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & RIGHTS
AND FAMILY PLANNING
13 April, 2011, New York, USA
The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN)is aNetwork of accomplished women leaders drawn from the world of politics, business, community organising, diplomacy and the arts, who support the efforts to improve access to reproductive health and comprehensive family planning. We seek to mobilize greater public support and political commitment to promote reproductive health and family planning as an intrinsic part of broader goals for sustainable development and women’s enjoyment of their human rights.
The AWLN is committed to advancing the implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa; the 2001 Abuja Declaration on HIV, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases (that calls for 15% budgetary commitments to health); the African Union Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) as well as the international commitments to women and reproductive health especially in the ICPD and CEDAW.
As we come together for the 44th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, under the theme “Fertility, Reproductive Health and Development”,
We are deeply concerned about:
- High levels of maternal mortality especially in Africa (74 per 1,000 live births versus 6 per 1,000 live births in industrialized counties respectively) most of which are preventable.
-High levels of prevalence of HIV & AIDS, especially among women and the lack of adequate and appropriate reproductive health and family planning servicesthat address their needs.
-Lack of information and access to quality and affordable services to women of all ages.
-Escalating incidences of violence against women including, domestic violence, sexual and gender based violence, FGM, early marriages, harmful practices (cultural, non-traditional and unethical research practices).
-Lack of visibility and resources to non – communicable diseases such as cancers, mental health (depression, stress) related to women’s reproductive health and roles.
-Lack of implementation of, and adequate resource allocation to global, regional and national commitments on gender equality and reproductive health.
-Lack of women’s participation in decisions that affect their lives as well as inadequate access to quality resources for community programmes and advocacy.
-Impact of poverty on women’s access to Family Planning
-Crisis situations that affect women’s human rights, especially those related to reproductive health
We are encouraged by the prioritization of the thematic focus on fertility, reproductive health and development within this years’ Commission agenda as well as the overall MDG framework. We value the space for civil society participation during the Commission, within the diversity of our communities.We affirm the contribution of existing community groups and women networks on delivering on the objectives of the CPD. As experts, leaders, knowledge providers, teachers, communicators, scientists and clients to services, we, as African women affirm the best practices in our communities that can be scaled up and commit to sharing of experiences.
We therefore recommend the adoption of a holistic and comprehensive approach to addressing SRHR namely:
- Operationalise the Abuja Declaration on 15% allocation of National budgets to health by ensuring that specific line items are created for Reproductive health, family planning and Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
- Accelerate the development and implementation of national plans (Roadmaps – Maputo Plan of Action)
- Invest in comprehensive and rights based sexuality education especially for young people.
- Create policies, budgets and programmes that enable access to quality, affordable, integrated services, commodities and referrals.
- Recognize and strengthen community social networks and institutions, especially women’s groups for their programmes on reproductive and family planning.
- Recognize positive culture as building blocks for addressing issues of fertility and reproductive health while addressing and eliminating harmful practices that undermine women’s rights.
- Continue to invest in contextual research in advancing reproductive health and family planning that empower women and girls.
- Continue to invest in technologies that reduce women’s burdens and enable them to be economically empowered.
- Create, facilitate and resource opportunitiesfor women’s participation in decisions that impact their lives.
As the African Women Leaders Network for Reproductive Health and Family Planning (AWLN), we appreciate the partnership and facilitation of the AWDF and IPPFAR as well as other national, regional and international organizations that continue to support our participation.
Issued in New York, on the 12th of April, 2011.