What is needed to make international progress on sexual health?

Illustration by: Tanya Shyika

On 9 June 2024, the next regional, federal and European elections will be held in Belgium. This means new lines will be set out for the next four years. In the field of international Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), we see opportunities to make sustainable progress. ​

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The road to 0.7% ​

Belgium, like other high-income countries, has undertaken to spend a minimum of 0.7% of its Gross National Product (GNP) on development cooperation. However, in 2021, with 0.46%, Belgium was well off that target and finds itself dangling below the European average. It’s crucial to understand that health, especially in a globalised world, should not stop at our national borders. ​

Embedding SRHR in partner countries ​

It is not just Belgium's budget that’s important. To really make a difference, we need to embed sexual and reproductive health in cooperation agreements with partner countries. Embedding sexual health and rights in these cooperation agreements requires up-to-date knowledge on these topics. Unfortunately, the government doesn’t structurally invest in training and retraining professionals on current challenges and approaches to sexual health. This lack of investment is worrying, given that several aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights are currently under pressure, such as abortion rights and LGBTQI+ rights in countries such as Poland and Hungary. ​

Coalitions against anti-democratic movements ​

In international negotiations and at international forums such as the UN and the EU, sexual and reproductive rights are under attack. The term gender equality is even being questioned these days. Therefore, Belgium must form coalitions to resist such anti-democratic movements that seek to turn back the clock and undermine sexual and reproductive rights. ​

Read more about Sensoa's 15 priorities for the future around sexual health regionally, nationally and internationally.