Seminar called for attention for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

In the framework of the forthcoming Slovenian EU presidency (first half of 2008), the seminar “Impact of crises and conflict on sexual and reproductive health and rights; the EU is to act!” was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia on November 22, 2007.

Participants from the Balkan countries made clear, attention for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) had been severely neglected during the war, post-conflict and in the current democratisation process. Despite an enormous rise in gender based violence and high risk sexual behaviour during and post crises and conflict, SRHR issues in these high risk areas are neglected all over the world. Combined with the absence of basic health services and reproductive health supplies this leads to an increase of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, difficult pregnancies and high risk deliveries, transmissions of STIs and HIV&AIDS and psychological problems in such situations.

Participants made clear to the Slovenian presidency of the EU what the priorities should be; in short the main points in humanitarian aid, post conflict and in the development phase:

- Make SRH a priority; Provide SRH services and reproductive health supplies; and Ensure sufficient funding
- DG ECHO and its partners, other EU funding mechanisms and the Member States should follow up and act along internationally agreed guidelines and standards (MISP, SPHERE, Gender-based Violence in Humanitarian Settings, gender equality and empowerment);
- Prepare an action plan on basis of the Humanitarian Aid Consensus and include SRH services;
- Make progress in combating violence an indicator in the EC assessment of the governance of third countries (the so-called governance profile).

Please read the full text and all recommendations on
http://www.sloga-platform.org/attachments/20071127_Final_Recommendations__2pages.pdf

This seminar was organised by Slovene Philanthropy, Association for Promotion of Voluntary Work; IPPF European Network and World Population Foundation (WPF) (both members of Countdown 2015 Europe) in collaboration with SLOGA (Slovene platform of non-governmental development organisations) and Division for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For more information you can contact Yvonne Bogaarts of WPF at y.bogaarts@wpf.org , or Dunja Obersnel Kveder of Slovene Philanthropy at Dunja.obersnel.kveder@siol.com

Information provided by Yvonne Bogaarts, WPF