By Moses Magadza

Parliamentarians attending the eighth International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (IPCI) in Norway adopted a new Statement of Commitment to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for all.

The MPs, from 112 countries across the world including the SADC region, adopted the Oslo Statement of Commitment on April 12, 2014, pledging their support to promoting SRHR for all people from infancy to old age.

The Oslo Statement of Commitment is anchored on human rights law and dignity. It mandates MPs to advocate for and promote SRHR for everyone but particularly for women, adolescents and marginalised groups that bear the brunt of natural disasters, conflicts and other crises.

A day earlier at the IPCI, SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) Secretary General Ms Boemo Sekgoma served as resource person in a session on youth leadership and participation. She shared findings from the Global Youth Dialogue that took place in Cotonou, Benin in April 2024.

The SG, who is also the Patron of the SADC Youth Forum and the Youth Parliament, stressed that inclusiveness of the youth would ensure enjoyment of adequate SRHR services and facilities compatible with ICPD commitments.

“While SRHR is of universal application and concerns the youth and elders alike, SRHR commitments contained in the ICPD Programme of Action impact to a large extent on the youth,” she noted, adding that the agency of young people, their leadership and meaningful participation would bolster democracy.

Ms Sekgoma said: “It is also the youth who can rise to bring innovation and overcome political obstacles in the way of the full implementation of the ICPD as well as the SDGs.”

She said outcomes of the Global Youth Dialogue that took place in Cotonou, Benin, from the 4th-5th April 2024 highlight the need for young people to be continuously involved “in all factions of the decision-making process on SRHR policies and laws”.

Current data from the United Nations shows that there are about 1.2 billion individuals aged between 15 to 24 years in the world, with this figure likely to reach 1.3 billion by 2030. 

“In continents such as Africa, the percentage of the youth is likely to exceed 30% in the next decade, which renders youth education around issues of sexuality all the more relevant and necessary,” Ms Sekgoma cautioned.

She added: “Inclusiveness of the youth is, therefore, imperative to ensure that the next generation enjoys adequate SRHR services and facilities which are compatible with the ICPD commitments.”

She stressed that the human right to health encompasses SRHR and warned there could be no universal health coverage without ensuring maternity and reproductive health as well as sexual rights, among others.

In summarising the Cotonou Youth Manifesto, Ms Sekgoma highlighted need to protect the SRHR related rights of the youth, by removing barriers to services and facilities.

“There is need to promote legal frameworks to counter GBV and harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, child marriage and forced pregnancies … to include youth-centric policies and eliminate barriers for access to SRHR facilities.”

She emphasized the need to protect the youth from a human rights perspective.

“Intersectional discrimination is to be stopped to ensure that all young individuals are treated alike under the law and are bestowed the same opportunities.”

She called for significant investments in youth development “through protective human rights frameworks that can also eradicate gender-based violence (GBV), sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) as well as technology-facilitated violence against the youth”.

On education, she said the youths advocated for free education to acquire basic skills and adequate command of languages.

“Culturally sensitive and age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is to be provided to the youth within a life skills framework,” she said.

Another outcome was related to adaptation to ensure the youth remains resilient in the face of macroeconomic changes.

“Governments are requested to engage in peace building processes, regular migration policies and climate change actions which inevitably influence youth demographics.”

Ms Sekgoma said the youths were calling for support in amplifying their voices and to be included in all levels of decision-making.

“There is also need to collaborate with Civil society organisations and to hold office bearers accountable, in particular through the institution of Parliament,” she stated.

With funding from SIDA, the SADC PF is implementing a SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project that is open to 14 of the SADC PF Member States.

The Oslo Statement of Commitment responds to the “rising polarization, conflicts, and fragile environments” that jinx the IPCD’s Programme of Action.