The Hivos regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Fund have convened in Harare on strategic planning on the issues affecting the young adolescents in East African Countries.
The high level meeting has brought together legislators, religious leaders, human rights commissioners and judiciary from countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi,Kenya,Uganda.
These countries continues to suffer the same fate of policy and law misalignment on sexual reproductive health right consent on adolescents youths.
Speaking at the two day meeting, Kudzai Meda, Policy Advocacy and Campaigns Programs Lead for the Hivos Regional SRHR Fund,said the meeting was aimed at discussing issues affecting the youth especially age of consent and how to find regional solutions to the problem.
“Today’s meeting was about giving champions an overview of Hivos and, more importantly, focusing on the campaign that Hivos is leading around ‘consent to access.’ This initiative tackles age-related barriers that prevent adolescents and young people from accessing sexual and reproductive health services
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“The champions were urged to look deeply at how regional, continental, and global commitments made by their governments align with SRHR outcomes for adolescents and young people. Based on this, they’re developing action plans suited to their areas of influence.For instance, parliamentarians will create action plans that align with legislative approaches to address SRHR issues, particularly the age of consent.”Meda said.
She also highlighted that they will be coming up with action plans based on localities or where the champions are coming from.
Among the champions was the Zimbabwean legislator, Perseverence Zhou, Member of Parliament for Midlands Province Women’s quota said there was to adjust policies and laws so that they can access SRHR services aligning with the right to health in the Zimbabwean constitution.
“We are having a discussion on how young adolescents can have access to health services from ages 16 without the consent from parents or guardians,” she said.
The Member of Parliament also stressed out that 70% of Africa’s population was the youth hence the need to protect the future generations including at schools through comprehensive sexuality education.
This regional dialogue follows the renewed ESA commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights with central goal of ensuring adolescent SRHR services are fully integrated into universal health coverage, guaranteeing that young people access the care they need as part of essential health services.
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