Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Simavi is committed to the individual self-determination of women in the belief that they are the most vulnerable, but at the same time they do the hard work when there are positive changes within the family situation or the local communities.
Based on research, the UN has concluded that there has been a dramatic decrease in the available resources necessary for sexual and reproductive health and rights education since the 1990s. Particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia almost no progress has been achieved in the area of maternal mortality over the past years. The likelihood of a woman in Africa dying during pregnancy or childbirth is 1 in 26 compared to a 12 in 100,000 risk in the Netherlands. The high global population growth also continues to be a serious concern.
Choice
If women really had the choice and are given the opportunity, the number of children would be substantially reduced. This is vital for the future of the entire world population, that will reach 7 billion in 2011, as it is particularly the poor parts of the world that show high levels of population growth. The Earth can no longer cope with this growth and the social and economic implications of this growth are also immense. Simavi addresses these problems by means of its programmes directed at sexual and reproductive health.
Simavi supports those partners willing to provide the total package in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights. At the same time, these are often very sensitive subject matters in the countries where Simavi works. The local organisations with which Simavi cooperates often have to deal with aversion to openness. This has to be taken into consideration when approaching people. Simavi states that there should at least be open and honest discussions in the education on sex, the use of condoms and other modern contraception and that contraceptives should also be made available to adolescents and married couples.
Right to sexual and reproductive health
Simavi also advocates open and honest discussions on themes such as abortion and circumcision. Simavi wants to propagate the rights to sexual and reproductive health further through cooperation with southern and northern partners. Within the sexual and reproductive health programmes Simavi also carries out work on HIV/AIDS prevention. Although the growth of HIV/AIDS has decreased in many areas, an average of 5,500 people still die daily as a result of this virus. In addition, on average 7,400 people become infected every day. AIDS is still the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. For a long time, this issue could count on much attention and financial support. It appears that this support is now receding. Simavi is particularly striving towards an integrated approach to HIV/AIDS.
