SWOP 2020 report UNFPA The Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda and UNFPA jointly launched the 2020 State of the World Population report in Belgium through an online interactive webinar. Invited speakers to the launch included newly appointed Minister of Development Cooperation, Meryame Kitir, director for Plan International Niger Ramatou Kane, co-director of GAMS Belgium, Stephanie Florquin, as well as representatives of the Directorate-General Development Cooperation. Els Van Hoof, chair of the parliamentary group took on the moderation.
UNFPA Brussels director, Sietske Steneker, presented the report, aptly entitled ‘Against my will’, discussing the harmful practices against women and girls around the world. These harmful practices include female genital mutilation, child marriage and sex selection. They are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the absolute number of girls subjected to these practices is still growing, even after decades of hard work by advocates and grassroots organisations.
UNFPA Brussels director, Sietske Steneker, presented the report, aptly entitled ‘Against my will’, discussing the harmful practices against women and girls around the world. These harmful practices include female genital mutilation, child marriage and sex selection. They are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the absolute number of girls subjected to these practices is still growing, even after decades of hard work by advocates and grassroots organisations.
In Belgium’s partner country, Niger, as 3 out of 10 girls will leave school before finishing their primary education, only 17 out of a 100 finish secondary school. Due to child marriage, of all 16 year old girls 24% are pregnant or have already given birth. Child Marriage is still very much linked to family honour, but poverty and legal challenges also play a significant role. Plan International Niger works on all levels, with communities and parliamentarians, to change both cultural norms and legal frameworks. Their main focus is to improve girls’ access to education. By keeping girls at school and working with boys they achieve results.
GAMS reminded the participants that FGM is a global issue, which also affects girls in Belgium. It is very much a human-rights issue, and working on norms and cultural ideas is crucial here too. They work in different sectors, and train professionals to have a culturally sensitive approach to the issue. GAMS emphasised there are no short-term solutions and that sustainable change means long-term involvement.
Minister Kitir closed the webinar by presenting her policy plans and answering questions. She emphasised sexual and reproductive health and rights will be important in her policy, with the SDGs at the heart of her work and a strong focus on the impact of policies on women’s well-being. She will also see to the systematic integration of SRHR in health system strengthening. Together with her colleague Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmes, she intends on being vocal on SRHR issues both internationally and bilaterally, as Belgium has been in recent years.
GAMS reminded the participants that FGM is a global issue, which also affects girls in Belgium. It is very much a human-rights issue, and working on norms and cultural ideas is crucial here too. They work in different sectors, and train professionals to have a culturally sensitive approach to the issue. GAMS emphasised there are no short-term solutions and that sustainable change means long-term involvement.
Minister Kitir closed the webinar by presenting her policy plans and answering questions. She emphasised sexual and reproductive health and rights will be important in her policy, with the SDGs at the heart of her work and a strong focus on the impact of policies on women’s well-being. She will also see to the systematic integration of SRHR in health system strengthening. Together with her colleague Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmes, she intends on being vocal on SRHR issues both internationally and bilaterally, as Belgium has been in recent years.
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