Alexander De Croo. Copyright: Cynthia Vertessen In a powerful joint statement, 58 countries, including Belgium expressed their concern about the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls’ human rights, the deepening of existing inequalities and the worsening discrimination of other marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities and people living in extreme poverty.
The statement calls for participation, protection and the potential of all women and girls to be at the centre of the response effort. The countries also call to implement specific measures to prevent violence against women and girls, and for the protection of all women and girls who are refugees, migrants or internally displaced during emergencies. Sexual and reproductive health needs, including psychosocial support services, and protection from gender-based violence, must be prioritised to ensure continuity.
The countries also underline the need to assume responsibility for social protection and to ensure adolescent health, rights and wellbeing during schools close-down. Any restrictions to the enjoyment of human rights should be prescribed by law in accordance with international law and rigorously assessed.
The 58 countries call upon all leaders to recognise the key role of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in health emergencies and the need for robust health systems to save lives. In this context, they consider sexual health services as essential. And stated: “We recommit to the immediate implementation of the UHC political declaration by all. Funding sexual and reproductive health and rights should remain a priority to avoid a rise in maternal and newborn mortality, an increased unmet need for contraception, and an increased number of unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections”.
The countries’ leaders also recommit to, despite the pressure on supply chains, providing all women and girls of reproductive age with reproductive health commodities and call on governments around the world to ensure full and unimpeded access to all sexual and reproductive health services for all women and girls.
For Belgium, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo signed the statement, published on May 6th 2020.
The countries also underline the need to assume responsibility for social protection and to ensure adolescent health, rights and wellbeing during schools close-down. Any restrictions to the enjoyment of human rights should be prescribed by law in accordance with international law and rigorously assessed.
The 58 countries call upon all leaders to recognise the key role of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in health emergencies and the need for robust health systems to save lives. In this context, they consider sexual health services as essential. And stated: “We recommit to the immediate implementation of the UHC political declaration by all. Funding sexual and reproductive health and rights should remain a priority to avoid a rise in maternal and newborn mortality, an increased unmet need for contraception, and an increased number of unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections”.
The countries’ leaders also recommit to, despite the pressure on supply chains, providing all women and girls of reproductive age with reproductive health commodities and call on governments around the world to ensure full and unimpeded access to all sexual and reproductive health services for all women and girls.
For Belgium, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo signed the statement, published on May 6th 2020.
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