Marie Stopes International calls for a bold programme to address Afghan women’s sexual and reproductive health at London conference
London - As delegates representing world governments, the United Nations and NATO gather for today’s ‘Afghanistan: The London Conference’, to discuss the future of the troubled Asian state, Marie Stopes International has issued a call for far greater resources to be set aside for promoting women’s health and rights.
Marie Stopes International was one of the first aid agencies into Kabul following the allied military intervention in 2002, bringing desperately needed family planning and sexual and reproductive health services to Afghan women who had been denied such services under the previous regime.
Farhad Javid, a native Afghan, is Programme Director of Marie Stopes International Afghanistan. He acknowledges that whilst life has improved for women since the departure of the Taliban, a huge amount of work remains to be done before they achieve anything like the status they deserve.
“According to official statistics, Afghanistan still has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world,” said Farhad.
“The fact is that more Afghan women die every year from pregnancy related causes in the country – an estimated 17,280 - than the total number of civilians killed each year as a result of the war on terror, which is estimated at approximately 2,000 . The war to preserve women’s health and lives is the most under resourced conflict of all.
“Of course, security remains key to all future development in Afghanistan. Without security, the many measures needed to address reproductive health would simply not be possible.”
Marie Stopes International Afghanistan is calling for the development of a dedicated strategy for reproductive health security and commodities for the country, which would include:
• the appointment of provincial reproductive health co-ordinators throughout
Afghanistan
• the legalisation of emergency contraception, particularly in the current climate of
increasing use of sexual violence against women and
• increased co-operation and partnership between the Government health system
and specialist sexual and reproductive health agencies operating in Afghanistan.
“The women of Afghanistan were denied status, education, and proper health care for decades,” continued Farhad.
“It’s time for the new Afghanistan to demonstrate commitment to its women and initiate a bold programme of reform.”
1. Based on an estimate contained in an evaluation by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission http://www.aihrc.org.af/Evaluation_Rep_Gen_Sit_Wom.htm
2. Based on figures from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1741