Gender Equalityand SRHR
Why are sexual and reproductive health and rights essential to achieve gender equality?
Gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women will not be possible without the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
SRHR is critical for women and girls in all their diversities to have healthy lives, to address violence and power relations in their lives, to be free to participate in social, economic and political life, and to freely make decisions governing their bodies. Barriers in access to services and information, especially for women and girls living in poverty or facing intersecting discriminations, impact on their ability to exercise free choice and participate meaningfully across social, economic and political life. Sexual and reproductive health services and information about sexuality are crucial to ensure the fulfillment of the right of sexual and reproductive self-determination for everyone, without discrimination on the basis of sexual expression, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics. For gender equality to be achieved, all women and girls, young people, LGBTIQ+ people, must have universal access to quality services, information and education regarding SRHR.
More work is needed for a gender equal world where SRHR are fulfilled
European governments have spent years pushing for gender equality and SRHR at home and in the international cooperation programmes they support abroad. Their priorities and tactics vary but cutting across all is the belief that SRHR are part and parcel of human rights and gender equality – as laid out in international and European human rights declarations – and core to public health and development.
But more work is needed to ensure we achieve a gender equal world.
We believe that when it comes to foreign and international cooperation policy, gender equality and SRHR are not add-ons tagged onto plans after everything else has been sorted out. They are the lifeblood of health, human rights and sustainable development. This is why we ask European governments to adopt an inclusive feminist foreign policy by placing women’s rights, gender equality and social justice at the heart of all external policies.
#AWorldWhere gender equality is possible is within our grasp. But we need to act now.
2154 this is the year we will reach gender equality at the current rate of progress. We can do better.
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Ending gender inequality will allow 2.4 billion women of working age to finally have access to the same economic opportunities as men
1 in 4 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are unemployed or unschooled while it is the case for 1 in 10 boys. We can close this gap with the right policies in place.
1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. This shouldn't be our reality.
Five ways to achieve gender equality
Why we stand for an Intersectional Feminist Foreign Policy
An Intersectional Feminist Foreign Policy (IFFP) is not just an ideal; it’s a necessity for creating a more just and equitable world. By challenging entrenched power imbalances, such as patriarchy, capitalism, racism, and neocolonialism, IFFP aims to dismantle the systems of oppression that perpetuate inequality. This approach prioritizes a rights-based framework, emphasizing the importance of bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as fundamental human rights.
IFFP seeks systemic change by promoting collaboration over competition, ensuring fair resource allocation, and centering marginalized communities in policy-making. It pushes for a gender-transformative approach that addresses harmful gender norms and strives for a world where everyone, including women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ people, can access their rights and resources equally.
At the European Union level, IFFP should inform all aspects of external action, from humanitarian aid to trade policy. It’s about ensuring that SRHR is integral to these efforts, providing women and girls the opportunity to lead healthy, empowered lives. By correcting the wrongs of capitalism and addressing the climate crisis, IFFP also ensures that our planet and its people are protected for future generations. This is why we stand for an Intersectional Feminist Foreign Policy.
Quick explainer on the Intersectional Feminist Foreign Policy
