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/

Abortion, LGBTI rights stir emotions on eve of Nairobi summit

Abortion, LGBTI rights stir emotions on eve of Nairobi summit

By Sara Jerving
12 November 2019

NAIROBI — In the lead up to a major global United Nations conference on reproductive and sexual health in Kenya, topics such as abortion, LGBTI rights, and contraceptives for adolescents have stirred controversy among faith communities and conservative advocacy groups. These reactions to the summit illustrate some of the challenges that health professionals face in expanding access to services for women and girls globally.

The Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, which started Tuesday, is being held 25 years after the first International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo. At that Cairo summit, a landmark document was agreed upon that is credited with creating a women and girl-centered approach to family planning, focused on human rights and choice. The U.N. hasn’t convened a conference of this magnitude on sexual and reproductive health since the 1994 summit. Over 6,000 people from 165 countries are expected to attend this week.

Continued: https://www.devex.com/news/abortion-lgbti-rights-stir-emotions-on-eve-of-nairobi-summit-96018

Kenya – Why a section of the clergy and politicians are uneasy with Nairobi conference on population

Why a section of the clergy and politicians are uneasy with Nairobi conference on population

Japheth Ogila
11th Nov 2019

Kenya will be hosting the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) summit tomorrow in Nairobi amidst unease and anxiety from a section of political and religious leaders.

According to the National Council for Population Development, the country landed the opportunity to host the conference after she met the requirements and was viewed as an active member.

Continued: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001348948/explainer-why-conference-on-population-is-generating-heat

Kenyan campaigners call for more investments in safe motherhood to curb deaths

Kenyan campaigners call for more investments in safe motherhood to curb deaths

2019-11-09
Editor: Lu Hui

NAIROBI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya should increase budgetary allocation towards reproductive health for women and girls in order to reduce fatalities linked to unsafe abortion and unattended births, campaigners have said.

The campaigners who spoke at a forum in Nairobi on Friday said that robust financing combined with policy reforms and community-led advocacy is key to advance the sexual and reproductive health of women in the childbearing age bracket.

Continued: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/09/c_138542299.htm

Kenya – Standards Are Not Enough: Policy Implementation Remains Central

Standards Are Not Enough: Policy Implementation Remains Central

August 22, 2019
By Melvine P. Ouyo

In 2013, Kenya’s Ministry of Health made the devastating decision to withdraw the Standards and Guidelines for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Unsafe Abortion. This caused a huge influx in untrained back street abortions, immense suffering, and the loss of countless lives. After six years of irreversible damage from this decision, Kenya’s High Court issued a clear ruling this summer: the government had violated the rights of Kenyan women and girls by withdrawing the Standards and Guidelines. It was a revolutionary moment for Kenyan communities.

The worldwide movement to give women freedom to choices first culminated at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt. The conference brought diverse views of human rights, population, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and sustainable development. It marked a global consensus that placed human dignity and human rights—including the right to plan a family—at the heart of development.

Continued: https://www.africa.com/standards-are-not-enough-policy-implementation-remains-central/

22.08.2019