UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin has reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting African countries to provide comprehensive sexuality education for young people.
“We stand ready to help all countries to accelerate sexuality education and provide the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health necessary for young people to live a healthy and productive life,” he said.
In a speech read by UNFPA Africa Regional Director Mr. Bunmi Makinwa at the 5th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights, Dr. Osotimehin said it is important for young people to have “universal and unhindered access to reproductive health information and services as a matter of right.”
He said many are happy that Africa is making good progress in sexual and reproductive health, and maternal health, but urged all countries to examine the returns available for investing in sexual and reproductive health in order to achieve economic growth. Read his full speech.
The President of Namibia, HE President Hifikepunye Pohamba, challenged African countries to develop and effectively implement policies that will fulfill the sexual health and reproductive rights of various populations, including young people. Read his full speech.
Zambia's First Lady, Dr Christine Kaseba Sata, who is a medical doctor, personalized the issue of maternal mortality and the high rates of cervical cancer among young women living with HIV in her country and East and Southern Africa (ESA). She called for action on maternal mortality and cervical cancer, saying that it was imperative to make the right to health, especially reproductive and sexual health, a reality for many women in Africa.
"As we human rights activists increasingly urge our governments to be accountable for violations of women's sexual and reproductive rights, we need to realise that these commitments will remain on paper and will mean little to the well-being of women and men if these national, regional and international human rights instruments are not used to prevent wrongs and when wrongs have occurred, to use the same instruments to correct the wrongs." Read her full speech.
The conference was coordinated by the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) and was attended by policy makers, civil society organizations, academia, educationalists, media, development activists, sexual health and rights advocates, women, girls, adolescents and youth.
