London: As delegates representing world governments, the United Nations and NATO gather for tomorrow’s ‘Afghanistan: The London Conference’, to discuss the future of the troubled Asian state, leading global sexual and reproductive health charity Marie Stopes International 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 who runs Marie Stopes International Afghanistan 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,” says Farhad Javid.
“The fact is that more Afghan women die every year from pregnancy related causes in the country – an estimated 17,280[1][1] - than the total number of civilians killed each year as a result of the war on terror, which is estimated at approximately 2,000[2][2]. 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,” said Farhad Javid.
“It’s time for the new Afghanistan to demonstrate commitment to its women and initiate a bold programme of reform.”
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Notes to the editor
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Michael Tirrell on +44 (0) 20 7034 2089 / +44 (0) 7771 681 265
or
Tony Kerridge on +44 (0) 20 7034 2365 / +44 (0) 7748 948 037
Marie Stopes International
Marie Stopes International (MSI) is one of the largest sexual and reproductive health providers in the world and cares for millions of people every year. MSI’s services include family planning, safe abortion, post abortion care, maternal and child healthcare such as safe delivery and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.
Founded in 1976, MSI’s Global Partnership spans over 40 countries across Asia, Africa, the Arab world, Latin America and Europe. MSI’s global partner network reaches millions of lives, empowering women and men to make safe and informed reproductive choices, so they can have children by choice, not chance.
Categories: Afghanistan; South Asia; Advocacy & campaigning; Family planning; Maternal health; Strengthening health systems