Late August, thirty parliamentarians from all regions of the world participated in a UNFPA and EPF interactive dialogue in the Austrian capital. MP Benoît Piedboeuf participated as a member of the Belgian ‘Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda’.
The parliamentarians discussed how to build consensus to advance the SRHR agenda, the implications of changing population structures, international law on sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as SDGs, gender challenges, abortion and demography.
The MPs also shared their experiences in developing cross-party groups and the specific challenges to SRHR in their own countries.
Piedboeuf: “This type of seminar is very enriching since, if we all agree at a fundamental level, it allows us to look at local sensitivities and identify what is needed to act effectively on the ground. It shows as well that we all face the same difficulties, in the first place corruption, as well as religious constraints, or, contrary, support. The interactive ‘games’ facilitated listening, paying attention and understanding the different frameworks of the participants.”
The MPs also shared their experiences in developing cross-party groups and the specific challenges to SRHR in their own countries.
Piedboeuf: “This type of seminar is very enriching since, if we all agree at a fundamental level, it allows us to look at local sensitivities and identify what is needed to act effectively on the ground. It shows as well that we all face the same difficulties, in the first place corruption, as well as religious constraints, or, contrary, support. The interactive ‘games’ facilitated listening, paying attention and understanding the different frameworks of the participants.”