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Marleen Temmerman, MD, PhD, MP Vienna 21 july 2010

Why leadership on women's rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, and on SRHR is important, what barriers exist and how they can be overcome. Marleen Temmerman, MD, PhD, MP Vienna 21 july 2010 . Sexual and reproductive rights still under threat.

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Marleen Temmerman, MD, PhD, MP Vienna 21 july 2010

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  1. Why leadership on women's rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, and on SRHR is important, what barriers exist and how they can be overcome Marleen Temmerman, MD, PhD, MP Vienna 21 july 2010

  2. Sexual and reproductive rights still under threat • Sexual and reproductive rights are under threat worldwide. In some countries in Europe, pressure from conservative and religious groups has reduced access to essential health services, especially for the poor and migrant populations. • There is too little quality sex education and access to family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancies/abortions. In countries where access to abortions is severely restricted the number of unsafe abortions is hugh and still rising.

  3. Sexual and reproductive rights still under threat • Female migrants face added difficulties. They have fewer channels through which to migrate legally to the EU than men. Fear of deportation and economic vulnerability leave undocumented migrant women more exposed to sexual and domestic violence. • Sexual and Reproductive Rights are being violated worldwide. A transformation of social norms should be embedded at all levels of society. Also men and boys should be engaged to work towards gender equality.

  4. What can Parliaments do? • To start with, Parliamentarians have an important role in initiating this debate in their countries and to fight ignorance, stigma and discrimination • MPs can start or strengthen women's rights and gender committees in Parliament. • MPs should take the lead on topics such as sexual and reproductive rights, pass laws against oa violence, female genital mutilation, discrimination, for equal pay and rights of migrant women, as the Parliament has the power to legislate • Parliament can control government budgets and fight for local and global solidarity (education/health..)

  5. What can Parliaments do? • The European Parliament can use its budgetary and policy powers, which will increase if the Lisbon treaty is ratified, to make sure women's rights are fully incorporated into the EU's social policies, the Stockholm programme and the common European asylum system. • It can advocate the inclusion of women's rights in labour laws and education policies. The EU does not have the mandate to judge any country's abortion legislation, but it can ensure that there is no discrimination in access to healthcare.

  6. Some good examples/best practices • ‘ If the pandemic is being feminized, so should the solutions. There is a need for greater political leadership in the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and few are as well-placed to provide it as members of parliament’ (IPU AIDS Conf Mexico 2008) • Taking Action against HIV and AIDS; Handbook for Parliamentarians (IPU-UNAIDS-UNDP)

  7. Maternal Mortality in Mozambique • It is estimated that thousands of women die or suffer serious complications every year as a result of trying to abort at the hands of an untrained health provider in unhygienic conditions. • Civil society and parliamentarians passed the message to the Govt and to the President that 11 women are dying per day of maternal causes, mostly illegal abortion. • The Mozambican government is reviewing the country's abortion ban and likely will submit legislation that would change the law after the country's parliament reconvenes in October

  8. MSM in Kenya • Recently, public health authorities, civil society and political leaders discussed the issue of the public health effects of withholding access to reproductive health care of homosexual men and MSM. • Debate will be initiated in Parliament about rights and discrimination

  9. Senegal • Parliamentarians in Senegal are reviewing their laws and legislation for gender aspects and discrimination

  10. Barriers andhow to overcome them • Barriers are many, difficult topics often not popular • Active support of the community, explain, educate, argue, stand for the cause.. • Public health approach: insist on negative impact on public health if sexual and reproductive health and rights endangered

  11. Mothernight • Initative of the Belgian Parliamentary group for the MDGs • Aims: • to raise attention for the problem of maternal mortality worldwide • by sensitising the public and • calling upon our govt to raise funds for mother-child health

  12. Painted Pregnant Women Reveal Shocking Statistics for International Women's Day

  13. Yes, we can, if we care! “ It takes two to make a child but a village to raise a child”. We are all part of that global village!

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