Sexual and Reproductive Health
Every year around 350,000 women die as a consequence of pregnancy and birth—and of this, 99 per cent occur in developing countries although most deaths could be prevented (read more >). DSW implements development projects and does advocacy work in order to increase access to health care services. Attention needs to be raised to assure a healthy young population and safe motherhood. Therefore, sexual and reproductive health and rights need to be a subject that is advanced to the top of the political agenda.
Our basic concept refers back to the Cairo Programme of Action of 1994. Ever since, sexual and reproductive health has become a major concern around the world. Starting in 2000, eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were signed by 189 member states of the United Nations (UN). MDG 5 aims to combat maternal deaths by decreasing its number by three-quarters and assuring universal access to reproductive health. Today, this remains the MDG with the least progress.
DSW Brussels: Universal Access to Reproductive Health
- Photo: JLogan, CC licence BY-SA 3.0
Within Brussels, DSW is regarded as an expert on budget matters for reproductive health, and works with fellow Brussels-based Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocates to successfully place Reproductive Health funding within the EU budget. We advocate for an increased recognition of SRHR in policy, and have asked for increased and improved donor funding for these important services and supplies. Working with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who champion these issues in parliamentary debates, and forging strong partnerships with European Commission officials, is an important step towards translating the EU's stated commitments into action.
Improving SRHR funding at the EU-level is only one part of our efforts. The Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (1994) commits developing countries to provide two-thirds of the necessary resources needed to achieve the goal of universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Hence, DSW is also working to support participatory and effective planning and implementation processes in developing countries. Critical to this is the important role of local CSOs: empowering them to engage in meaningful dialogue with EU delegations, European donor agencies and national decision-makers not only contributes to our collective efforts in making reproductive health a priority in policy, but it also supports national ownership of development.
