Marie Stopes International criticises Ireland's objection to EU-Africa strategy

Leading global sexual and reproductive health agency, Marie Stopes International (MSI), expressed outrage today at attempts by Ireland to obstruct the Joint EU/Africa strategy.

At the instigation of players at both sides including the African Union, the draft strategy expressed commitment to “universal access to reproductive health by 2015 and to reduce newborn, infant and maternal morbidity and mortality…” But it emerged this week that Ireland expressed reservation during EU Council of Ministers discussions of 19 November over the language used, preventing the adoption of the strategy and its agreed action plan.

“An Irish woman does not have a one in sixteen chance of dying from a pregnancy related cause, as is the case in sub-Saharan Africa” said Dana Hovig, Chief Executive of MSI. “If EU countries cannot see beyond their own contexts, this will not be a joint EU-Africa strategy, but an EU strategy for Africa. There is simply no excuse for obstructing the delivery of essential reproductive health services in the region.”

Every minute of every day, a woman dies from the complications that can arise during pregnancy and childbirth, mostly in the developing world. The probability that a 15 year-old girl will die from a complication related to pregnancy and childbirth during her lifetime is one in 16 in sub-Saharan Africa, compared with one in 7,300 in Europe. The draft Joint EU-Africa strategy aims to respond to this problem by calling for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights throughout Africa.

The Joint Strategy and accompanying Action Plan (2008-2010) provide a comprehensive framework for EU-Africa relations. They are due to be adopted by European and African heads of state at the EU-Africa summit on 8th December in Lisbon. The text will be finalised at an Africa-EU ministerial meeting in Sharm-el-Sheik on 5th December.

For further information, please contact Gauri Vangulik on +32 473 614853, gauri.vangulik@mariestopes-org.be or Leo Bryant on +44 20 7034 2336, leo.bryant@mariestopes.org.uk

Categories: Ireland; Africa; Europe; Family planning

23/11/2007

Marie Stopes International criticises Ireland's objection to EU-Africa strategy

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Marie Stopes International