The American anti-abortion movement is reverberating abroad

The American anti-abortion movement is reverberating abroad

By Annalisa Merelli in Nairobi, Kenya
November 14, 2019

25 years ago, UN member states met in Cairo for a groundbreaking summit: the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). It was a massive meeting, attended by some 20,000 government representatives, activists and nonprofits.

Their goal was to make international commitments to improve reproductive rights and health around the world. They ultimately pledged to increase access to education for women, reduce maternal, infant and child mortality, and ensure access to family planning methods and reproductive health for all. Among those in attendance was then US president Bill Clinton. The US had emerged as a leader in promoting global reproductive rights. It was an exciting time. The conference felt like a landmark meeting. It was history in the making.

Continued: https://qz.com/1743640/us-abortion-politics-are-affecting-global-reproductive-health/


Debate on legalising abortion stokes passions

Debate on legalising abortion stokes passions

By The Standard
14th Nov 2019

Pro-choice advocates want abortion legalised to reduce maternal mortality.

Several advocacy groups, among them International Campaign for Women Rights to Safe Abortion, argued that religious and cultural norms should not be a hindrance for countries to enact laws on safe abortion.

“If people want to be bound by religious norms it is okay. If you have a law on safe abortion, it does not mean every woman will be forced to do it,” said Dr Shilpa Shroff, the director of International Campaign for Women Rights to Safe Abortion.

Continued: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/article/2001349369/debate-on-legalising-abortion-stokes-passions


South Africa to strive to further reduce child and maternal mortality: Mthembu

SA to strive to further reduce child and maternal mortality: Mthembu
“We are confident that these interventions will ensure that we continue to place people at the centre of our developmental agenda,” Mthembu said.

Devdiscourse News Desk
Updated: 14-11-2019

Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu says South Africa will continue working to improve access to reproductive health care services.

Speaking at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which is currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya, Mthembu said the newly completed five-year plan for the country's 6th democratic administration affirmed that South Africa will in the next five years continue to improve access to reproductive health services, including targeting adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to address pregnancies and risky behavior.

Continued: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/744849-sa-to-strive-to-further-reduce-child-and-maternal-mortality-mthembu


Atheists in Kenya president Harrison Mumia asks government to legalise abortion

Atheists in Kenya president Harrison Mumia asks government to legalise abortion

Nov 13, 2019
by Japhet Ruto

Atheists in Kenya president Harrison Mumia has asked the government to review the country’s abortion laws. The controversial chairman of non-believers said the government should provide access to safe and legal abortion under the new constitution.

In a letter dated Tuesday, November 12, the former Central Bank of Kenya employee said the state should expand post abortion care services all over the country until unsafe termination of pregnancies is eradicated.

https://www.tuko.co.ke/324431-atheists-kenya-president-harrison-mumia-asks-government-legalise-abortion.html


Kenya – ‘Dumped babies are just the tip of the iceberg’: The deadly consequences of curbing reproductive rights

‘Dumped babies are just the tip of the iceberg’: The deadly consequences of curbing reproductive rights

Louise Donovan and Nasibo Kabale, in Nairobi
13 November 2019

It’s a hot mid-August morning, and Lydia Wambui’s bright green overalls are soaked. She’s standing knee-deep in Nairobi River, using a metal rod to catch rubbish lazily flowing down its murky waters.

“Sewage, bottle-tops, needles – people chuck everything in here,” she says, wiping sweat off her forehead before adding: “We also keep finding babies.”

Continued: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/dumped-babies-just-tip-iceberg-deadly-consequences-curbing-reproductive/


Kenya – WHO guidelines on abortion will reduce maternal death

WHO guidelines on abortion will reduce maternal deaths

by Daniel Otieno
Star Blogs
25 October 2019

In 1967, the World Health Organization highlighted unsafe abortion as a health issue affecting women.

However, it wasn’t until 1987 when the safe motherhood conference was held in Nairobi that the world understood unsafe abortion as a public health concern. At the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, governments again identified unsafe abortion as a public health concern and pledged their commitment to reducing the need for abortion through expanded and improved family planning services.

Continued: https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/star-blogs/2019-10-25-who-guidelines-on-abortion-will-reduce-maternal-deaths/


UNFPA committed to women empowerment: Dr Natalia Kanem

UNFPA committed to women empowerment: Dr Natalia Kanem

Published: October 24, 2019
RAJAN POKHREL

The ‘so-called’ Global Gag Rule, as well as the defunding of United Nations Population Fund by the current US government, impacted the health and well-being of women and girls in many parts of the world, the top United Nations official said.

According to United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund Dr Natalia Kanem, the GGR and the pushback have led to cutbacks in essential services.

Continued: https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/unfpa-committed-to-women-empowerment/


Abortion Remains an Unresolved Issue: ICPD25 Meeting next Month

Abortion Remains an Unresolved Issue: ICPD25 Meeting next Month

By Osamu Kusumoto
Osamu Kusumoto is Secretary General and Executive Director of Asian Population and Development Association (APDA)

TOKYO, Japan, Oct 9 2019 (IPS) - Currently, the topic of abortion as human rights leaves the world bustling. When the state of Alabama1 in the United States enacted a very strict ban on abortion, it shocked the world. This prompted so-called conservative movements, led by female business owners, to make a full-scale advertisement in the New York Times claiming abortion is a human right2 ; hence the global debate between pro-life and pro-choice.

This discussion is a remnant of the debate at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994. Twenty Five years into the ICPD and the struggle between opposing views persists, causing the continued disruption in the accessibility of women to reproductive health. This is especially true in developing countries.

Continued: http://www.ipsnews.net/2019/10/abortion-remains-unresolved-issue-icpd25-meeting-next-month/


25 Years of Progress on Women’s Health Is in Danger

25 Years of Progress on Women’s Health Is in Danger
Because of course it is.

Words: Serra Sippel
Pictures: UN Women
Date: September 25th, 2019

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and without missing a beat the Trump Administration has pounced on yet another opportunity to renege on US global commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In the lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on universal health coverage, which took place on September 23, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary Alex Azar of the US Department of Health and Human Services sent a joint letter to governments asking that they join the US in rejecting longstanding global commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality.

Continued: https://inkstickmedia.com/25-years-of-progress-on-womens-health-is-in-danger/