PMNCH: Sexual, Reproductive Rights Are Impacted By COVID-19, Humanitarian Crisis

According to a report by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) have been impacted by COVID-19 and the Humanitarian crisis.

It said the expanding number of humanitarian conflicts around the world has affected women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.

PMNCH’s report, which would be presented before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York this week, supports countries in making the case for SRH and rights to be prioritised and recognised with urgency within global agreements.

Part of the report entitled: ‘Overturning Roe v. Wade: Concerns for Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, Including Safe Abortion ‘ states: “For PMNCH, the survey results confirm widely held fears of potential impact. The need for intensified advocacy is clear, especially at a time when SRH services and rights have been assaulted by the impact of COVID-19, as well as other factors such as the expanding number of humanitarian conflicts in the world today, where women are often highly affected.

Read Also: American Rights Group, NHRC Partner Against Health Health, Sexual Discrimination

“The findings highlight the realities faced by some PMNCH members in particular, the need for practical tools and mitigation strategies that partners can use to strengthen accountability for SRHR within their respective domains.

Helen Clark, PMNCH Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand stated, “The effects of the overturn of Roe v. Wade extend far beyond US borders. As is often said: ‘When America sneezes, the world catches cold’.

“The PMNCH survey results show that what we most feared: that there could be a potential reduction in access to sexual and reproductive health services for women, following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“This may pose serious risk to the health and well-being of millions of women worldwide, who rely upon access to family planning and abortion services.’’

“The ruling also lends spurious legitimacy to those who seek to restrict the rights of women and may also encourage some countries to move towards their own regressive and restrictive abortion laws. This cannot be accepted. Now more than ever, we must invest in protecting sexual and reproductive health services, increasing public education on the value of these services, and upholding human rights.

“Ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York this month, this report supports countries in making the case for SRH and rights to be prioritized and recognized with urgency within global agreements. Advocates and partners supporting health service provision must re-double their efforts to scale up access to comprehensive and accessible reproductive healthcare services to safeguard the well-being of individuals seeking the full range of SRH services, including safe abortion.”