JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Significant progress is being made to empower girls and women in Africa, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin told the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) at its 15th Ordinary General Assembly, on enhancing partnerships to end AIDS by 2030 and to empower women in their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The event took place during the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg from 7-15 June, which was themed ‘Year of Women Empowerment and Development Towards Africa’s Agenda 2063’.
‘Books before babies’
 UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Photo: UNFPA ESARO / Lindsay Barnes |
UNFPA in partnership with the African Union and many of the First Ladies’ offices is working to end child marriage. Six countries have now launched the Campaign to End Child Marriage, while Nigeria has enacted a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is horrendous and must be eliminated on the continent, he said.
He congratulated the 45 African countries that have launched the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa, CARMMA, making it one of the most widely supported campaigns on the continent. However, it is not sufficient merely to launch it; countries now need to act on this commitment to ensure that women get the services they need and don’t die while giving life, he said.
Dr. Osotimehin acknowledged the First Ladies for mobilizing policy makers and resources to support maternal health programmes. He also congratulated African countries for reducing maternal mortality by around 50 per cent since 1990 but said that much more needed to be done. “It is not acceptable that any woman dies while giving life,” he said. In this respect family planning is the most effective intervention.
Dr. Osotimehin urged the First Ladies to use their influence to ensure that girls attend school until the age of 18 years as this will empower them to make better decisions for themselves and for the health of their families. If we are to make a difference in people’s lives, we need to focus on the adolescent girl. “Our girls should have books before babies,” he said.
‘Investing in SRH saves money’
 Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin with Zambian President Edgar Lungu. Photo: UNFPA ESARO / Lindsay Barnes |
“Universal access to family planning, which can reduce maternal deaths by as much as 30 per cent, is still out of reach,” he said. In the poorest 69 countries, many of which are in Africa, the unmet need for family planning has increased from 153 to 162 million. However, “we know that investing in sexual and reproductive health services improves the health of mothers and children and saves health systems money.”
What is needed is greater engagement to accelerate progress, greater partnership, and greater investment. “Your direct involvement remains critical,” he told the First Ladies. He urged them to use their privileged positions and their voices to advocate for an end to child marriage and teenage pregnancy, and to help Africa reap the demographic dividend.
In an earlier meeting with Zambian President Edgar Lungu during the summit, Dr. Osotimehin said that women are central to the wellbeing of families in Africa. Africa’s greatest asset is its young people, and this asset requires substantial investment in education, health, skills and innovation. “We are working with your Government to develop a programme to enable Zambia to reach a demographic dividend,” he said.
‘A common agenda’
 UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Director, Dr. Julitta Onabanjo (far left) and Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin (3rd from right) with dignatories at the summit. Photo: UNFPA ESARO / Lindsay Barnes |
Dr. Osotimehin asked President Lungu to place a special focus on young people and to ensure gender parity for girls in Zambia. UNFPA is working in Zambia to help reduce teen pregnancies, child marriage and HIV among young people, he said.
He asked President Lungu to be a champion for the demographic dividend and young people, and said the Fund was a great admirer of Zambia’s progress. In response, President Lungu said he was grateful that UNFPA was there for Zambia “as we have one common agenda.”
Dr. Osotimehin also met with the President of Senegal Macky Sall to discuss engaging faith-based leaders to expand the uptake of family planning in his country, as well as Malawian President Peter Mutharika.
‘AU member states must fund development’ At the opening session of the AU Summit, South African President Jacob Zuma said in implementation of Agenda 2063, African countries must take responsibility for funding development goals on the continent. He also said conflicts on the continent need to be addressed while a decisive plan of action must be devised to address the matter of terrorism.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is the current AU Chair, spoke on the crises in Burundi and South Sudan and attempts to build sustainable peace on the continent. Regional organizations such as ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) were doing their best to restore peace, he said.
By Lindsay Barnes
