Girl-child faces rights challenges – UNFPA

UNITED Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative Dennia Gayle says barriers such as political turbulence and multi-dimensional forms of inequality should not hamper a person’s right to freely decide whether to have children.

Gayle was speaking during the 25th commemoration of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the UNFPA, in Windhoek on Wednesday.

The ICPD was coordinated by the United Nations in Cairo in 1994, where 179 governments adopted a revolutionary programme of action, and called for women’s reproductive health and rights to take centre stage in national and global development efforts.

“Every person must have the freedom to decide freely and responsibly, whether or when to have children, and must have the information and means to do so,” Gayle said, adding “that is the core of the promise of Cairo.”

She said it is important to remain optimistic and resilient, despite being faced with multi-dimensional forms of inequality, persistent discrimination and political turbulence.

“For many of us policy actors and advocates, it feels like we take two steps forward, and get pulled one step back,” she continued.

The country representative noted that the UNFPA’s strategic plan is aligned to contributing to Agenda 2030, adding that the lives of women, young people and adolescent girls need to be transformed to ensure that they are not left behind. “Tonight, somewhere in this region, or even here in Namibia, an adolescent is in labour. Will she face a complication? Will she have access to a midwife and quality medicines to treat her complication? Will she survive? Will her newborn survive?

If her reproductive rights are upheld, the answer to these questions is a resounding ‘yes’,” Gayle remarked.

Speaking on gender-based violence, she stated that legal systems still struggle to convict perpetrators, as many cases involve partners who are intimate. She thus supported the idea of an African #MeToo movement to curb the scourge. Namibia launched a #MeTooNamibia movement two weeks ago, following the revelation of numerous sex crimes committed against women.

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