Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Every two minutes, a woman dies of pregnancy-related complications, low- and middle-income countries account for 99 per cent of these maternal deaths. The four most common causes are: severe bleeding after childbirth, infections, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and unsafe abortion. DSW implements development projects and undertakes advocacy work in order to increase access to healthcare services. Attention needs to be raised to assure a healthy young population and safe motherhood. Therefore, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs to be a subject that is advanced to the top of the political agenda.
Our work is based on the Programme of Action committed to at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo. Ever since then, sexual and reproductive health has become a major concern around the world.
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Interfaith Declaration to Improve Family Health and Well-Being
DSW, working with core partners Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH) and Muhammadiyah, have conducted an extended consultation process with religious leaders and faith based institutions regarding their willingness to support advocacy for reproductive health and/or family planning.
Faith organisations, including religious institutions and faith-based organizations (FBOs), have tremendous power to influence public policy, funding and access to services. When it comes to FP/RH policies and funding, many faith organisations do excellent work, providing information, services and supplies in low- and middle-income countries. However, if faith organisations and people of different faith backgrounds are able to create stronger alliances internationally, they will have a much greater impact on FP/RH policies and funding.
Empowered by a ground-breaking interfaith consensus statement in support of FP/RH, established in June 2011—in which leaders of faith-based organisations (FBOs) committed to leveraging their networks to support family health—a broad group of world-wide allies and champions engaged in a consultation process to identify shared values, global goals, common messages and to define conditions under which institutions can work together as a voice for FP/RH advocacy.
In December 2012, leaders of faith-based organisations representing different regions and faiths participated in a Global Interfaith Meeting and agreed to establish and coordinate a global interfaith network. This network will serve as an effective platform for dialogue on FP/RH, building the technical and financial capacity of FBOs and religious institution to engage in advocacy on FP/RH, and facilitating sustained joint action in support of FP/RH. More>
For further details about the Interfaith Initiative, please see:
From Faith to Action_Summary Report
From Faith to Action_Fact Sheet
Election of New Steering Council
After meeting in December 2012, the Faith to Action (F2A) Network elected a new Steering Council consisting of Muslim and Christian (Catholic and Protestant) men and women from sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle-East, Europe, and the USA. Members of the Council include:
- Mr. Emmanuel Olatunji, Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa
(CAPA) - Chair - Dr. Ahmed Ragab, International Islamic Center for Population
Studies and Research, Al Azhar University - Vice-Chair - Mr. Douglas Huber, Christian Connections for International Health
(CCIH) - Dr. Emma Rachmawati Tatang, Muhammadiyah
- Ms. Geertje van Mensvoort, CORDAID
- Mr. Joel Oloo, African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL)
These members will serve an initial 18 month term. The Steering Council will be responsible for overall governance of the network and will provide broad guidance, oversight, and approval of key decisions and activities.
Media Engagement
Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) Critical to Family Planning
July, 2012
Bill and Melinda Gate’s Foundation blog post about the importance of FBO’s in Family Planning. http://bit.ly/NyiIuc
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World Population Day and London Summit on Family Planning
July 2012
Statement: Religious Leaders Support Access to Family Planning
Religious leaders from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist constituents have come together to express their support to the London Summit on Family Planning, an event hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Government on the occasion of the World Population Day, July 11th. The Summit will mobilise global policy, financing, commodity, and service delivery commitments to support the rights of millions of women living in the world's least developed countries to achieve access to family planning methods. In approach of the Family Planning Summit, religious leaders have called on the international community to commit to this crucial health issue. The full statement>
