 | On the 12th of January, the House of People's Representatives adopted a resolution reminding Belgium of the importance of sexual health and rights in tackling poverty and inequality. What does the parliament want the Belgian government to do? We’ve listed it for you. |
Advocate the right to abortion internationally
The parliament calls on the Belgian government to play an outspoken role in the international defence of women's rights and, in particular, the right to abortion, which has been rolled back in several European countries and is far from being an acquired right in many countries around the world.
Development minister must systematically integrate sexual health
Parliament calls on the development minister to systematically integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) into health policies and programmes and in non-health sectors, such as education. SRHR, including HIV prevention and response, should be integrated as essential services in primary health care and included in health benefit packages covered by health insurances in partner countries. These measures can be put into concrete action by DGD and Enabel, the executive agency of governmental cooperation.
International cooperation must continue on growth path in SRHR spending
Parliament calls on the government to continue the growth path in health and reproductive health spending. It builds on Sensoa's annual review of spending on international cooperation, in which Sensoa warned that the financial resources allocated to sexual and reproductive health and rights in governmental cooperation are not guaranteed after 2024. The parliament also calls for continued support for UNFPA, UNAIDS and the Global Fund and NGOs working to make sexual and reproductive health and rights more inclusive.
Better map of financial support and report to parliament
Parliament requests DGD to provide more complete information on the specific spending on sexual and reproductive health and rights in international cooperation, to increase transparency in what Belgium is doing in terms of access to family planning, education and services for young people, sexuality education, safe abortion, etc. It also asks DGD to explore the adoption of an 'SRHR marker' and to report to parliament annually.
Train professionals on sexual and reproductive health and rights
Parliament suggests that SRHR be included in the training of new staff at DGD, Enabel, FPS Foreign Affairs, including diplomats. Active use of the Body & Rights e-tutorial that Sensoa helped develop could be a first step to this end.
Initiators
MPs and members of the "Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda" Goedele Liekens and Marianne Verhaert took the initiative for the resolution, which enjoyed broad support in parliament.
Read the resolution
The parliament calls on the Belgian government to play an outspoken role in the international defence of women's rights and, in particular, the right to abortion, which has been rolled back in several European countries and is far from being an acquired right in many countries around the world.
Development minister must systematically integrate sexual health
Parliament calls on the development minister to systematically integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) into health policies and programmes and in non-health sectors, such as education. SRHR, including HIV prevention and response, should be integrated as essential services in primary health care and included in health benefit packages covered by health insurances in partner countries. These measures can be put into concrete action by DGD and Enabel, the executive agency of governmental cooperation.
International cooperation must continue on growth path in SRHR spending
Parliament calls on the government to continue the growth path in health and reproductive health spending. It builds on Sensoa's annual review of spending on international cooperation, in which Sensoa warned that the financial resources allocated to sexual and reproductive health and rights in governmental cooperation are not guaranteed after 2024. The parliament also calls for continued support for UNFPA, UNAIDS and the Global Fund and NGOs working to make sexual and reproductive health and rights more inclusive.
Better map of financial support and report to parliament
Parliament requests DGD to provide more complete information on the specific spending on sexual and reproductive health and rights in international cooperation, to increase transparency in what Belgium is doing in terms of access to family planning, education and services for young people, sexuality education, safe abortion, etc. It also asks DGD to explore the adoption of an 'SRHR marker' and to report to parliament annually.
Train professionals on sexual and reproductive health and rights
Parliament suggests that SRHR be included in the training of new staff at DGD, Enabel, FPS Foreign Affairs, including diplomats. Active use of the Body & Rights e-tutorial that Sensoa helped develop could be a first step to this end.
Initiators
MPs and members of the "Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda" Goedele Liekens and Marianne Verhaert took the initiative for the resolution, which enjoyed broad support in parliament.
Read the resolution
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