The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
FIFTY percent of women in developing countries including Zimbabwe, lack powers to make decisions over their bodies, a study has revealed.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and its partners launched the annual report on the State of the World Population Report (SWOP), which shows that half of women in 57 developing countries are denied their bodily autonomy.
The report entitled: “My Body is My Own” shows that many women and girls are denied the right to decide whether to use contraception or seek health care, among many other issues cited in the report. The SWOP is a report, which analyses developments and trends in world population and demographics. UNFPA Zimbabwe launched the SWOP 2021 in Zimbabwe on Friday last week as it officially commemorated World Population Day. The day is commemorated each year on 11 July.
“World Population Day is very important for UNFPA — it is a flagship day meant to raise awareness of population dynamics centred on the sexual and reproductive health needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls. It is also an opportunity to showcase progress or challenges towards the realisation of universal access to sexual and reproductive health for women and young people even in humanitarian and emergency situations. It is therefore, befitting that we launch the 2021 State of the World Population Report as we commemorate World Population Day,” said UNFPA Country Representative Dr Esther Muia.
UNFPA executive director Dr Natalia Kanem called on violence’s against women to come to an end.
“The denial of bodily autonomy is a violation of women and girls’ fundamental human rights that reinforces inequalities and perpetuates violence arising from gender discrimination. It is nothing less than an annihilation of the spirit, and it must stop. By contrast, a woman who has control over her body is more likely to be empowered in other spheres of her life. She gains not only in terms of autonomy, but also through advances in health and education, income and safety. She is more likely to thrive, and so is her family,” she said.
In his solidarity remarks at the launch of #MyBodyIsMyOwn report, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro acknowledged the support that the Ministry has been receiving from various partners towards improving the availability of SRH and SGBV services at levels of care. He said efforts must be made to ensure everyone, particularly those in marginalised communities have access to SRH and GBV services.
“Our adolescents continue to face a myriad of sexual and reproductive health challenges including high rates of unplanned pregnancies, early child bearing and transmission of STIs including HIV. As we commemorate World Population Day we are reminded of the marginalised and the challenges they are facing in accessing SRH and SGBV services that are age appropriate, safe, equitable, affordable and accessible. Sadly, we also remember thousands of young people who are morbid and have died due to avoidable and preventable Sexual Reproductive Health and GBV related cases,” he said.
Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said child marriages were disadvantaging girls.
“Child marriage is a violation of multiple rights of the girl child that include, denying her the right to education, right to health and well-being. It exposes the girl child to Gender Based Violence, HIV and other health related conditions. It puts the young mother and her child into a cycle of poverty. The Constitution, the supreme law of the country outlaw’s child marriage and clearly puts the age of marriage at 18 years. We continue to urge and encourage people from diverse backgrounds including religions and cultures to respect this Constitutional provision,” she said. — @NyembeziMu.
