Time for global collaboration to address sexual, reproductive health and rights

Parliamentarians from more than 150 nations are gathering in Ottawa this week to tackle one of the most serious challenges facing humanity. At the International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Program of Action, or IPCI, a forum for all global regions, political leaders will work towards collective action on issues related to population and development, specifically as they relate to sexual and reproductive health and rights. As chair of the host, Canadian parliamentary association, I am excited at the prospect of not only looking back at the gains we have made since nations pledged action on the 1994 UN Declaration on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, but also to identify where and why we have failed to achieve those goals for women, girls and youth. Canada is in a strong position to play a leadership role in addressing the existing inequalities to sexual and reproductive health and rights, not only worldwide, but in our own backyard. Ottawa has pledged and made good on our commitment to play an enhanced role in this area, through the Feminist International Assistance Policy. This policy’s commitment to maternal, newborn, and child health aims to close the still-glaring gaps in sexual and reproductive health for many developing regions. ‎It is backed by an additional investment of $650-million over three years, which will be allocated to meet needs in these areas globally. At home, there's also much work that needs to be done. Canada is well aware that our own Indigenous communities still have unequal access to services related to sexual and reproductive health and basic health infrastructure.‎ We're also aware that Indigenous peoples in the Americas face the same, if not greater challenges. Federal and provincial jurisdictional issues can lead to unequal access to abortion, and to Mifepristone, the abortion pill, despite the fact that both are legal in Canada. The Globe and Mail has been highlighting these issues and its Atlantic Canada correspondent, Jessica Leeder, will be a keynote speaker at IPCI 2018, expanding on these challenges. The IPCI forum will not only look at solutions to these existing problems but discuss, frankly and openly, the new worldwide issues that are looming. Diverse cultural and religious practices, as well as poverty and minority status, remain a problem where women and youth are denied access to full sexual and reproductive health and rights. Recent UNICEF statistics indicate that at least 200 million women and girls alive today have been subjected to female genital mutilation. The rise in regional conflicts that use rape as a “tactic” to subdue minority and “enemy” populations have made women and girls even more vulnerable. Unprecedented migration of those fleeing conflict as a result of climate change and poverty has created large populations of displaced persons who live in temporary zones, with no access to health care and where they are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and sex trafficking. For the nearly one million Rohingya now living in Bangladesh refugee camps, the UN reported recently that over 60 births occur each day, while Oxfam Canada released a startling statistic that showed 25 to 50 per cent of maternal deaths in refugee camps are caused by unsafe abortions and related complications. We’ve also seen an increase of “right wing” political movements that seek to curb access to legal contraception and abortion and the education of youth with regard to sexual health. Additionally, these movements have been known to promote systemic ‎xenophobia and deny rights to minorities. This includes LGBTQ+ communities, which has an impact to increase public health mortality and morbidity rates globally. We also must not forget the persistent and growing incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. There’s no better time than now to take action. Parliamentarians at IPCI 2018 will not only explore these themes, but will hear from speakers about innovative solutions taking place around the world. We are uniquely placed to influence change. As stated in the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, paragraph 45 recognizes “the essential role of national parliaments through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets and their role in ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments.” Parliamentarians can challenge governments that promote xenophobia and harmful policies. We can stand up for human rights and the full access to sexual and reproductive health services and rights for women and youth locally. We can bond with other nations to make concrete change that would benefit all. This is what I hope we can achieve at IPCI 2018. Hedy Fry is Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre. The Hill Times