Seksuell og reproduktiv helse og rettigheter (ENG)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights
Seksuell og reproduktiv helse og rettigheter
Millions of women and girls live in countries where abortion is fully or partly criminalised and there is limited access to contraception. FOKUS works to strengthen girls’ and women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) by changing norms and practices that limit women’s and girls’ bodily autonomy.
What we do
Together with ten local organisations and networks in Colombia, Guatemala, Uganda, Somaliland, Malawi and Ethiopia, FOKUS works to ensure that women and girls can make decisions about their own bodies.
Together with our partner organisations, we work to mobilise and raise awareness in communities in order to change social norms that discriminate against women and girls. Improving access to contraception, safe abortions and adequate maternal health care through training health care staff, are other important efforts. Additionally, we work to improve sexual education for youth and strengthen legislation and policies.
This has led to improved quality of sexual and reproductive health services, that more girls and women get access to these services, and that many have less risk for complications and illness during pregnancy and childbirth.
In Colombia, partner organisations provide sexual and reproductive health services and legal aid to women and girls who are denied access to abortion, or who are prosecuted for having carried out an abortion.
In 2022, after years of activism, strategic litigation and mobilisation by the civil society alliance Causa Justa, the Constitutional Court decriminalised abortion in a historic ruling. FOKUS’ partner organisations had a central role in these efforts.
In Guatemala, FOKUS supports SRHR training for youth, and training for maya midwives and health personnel in maternal and pre- and postnatal care. In Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi and Somaliland, many adolescents and women have gained knowledge about SRHR and corrected myths and misconceptions on contraception and menstruation. Furthermore, midwives and politicians, among others, have received relevant training.
About sexual and reproductive health and rights
SRHR comprises the right of all individuals to make decisions about their own bodies and lives and is reflected in and protected by the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform and the Sustainable Development Goals.
An estimated 257 million women who wish to avoid pregnancy do not use a safe contraceptive, with 172 million using no contraception at all. Every year, 121 million women experience an unintended pregnancy. In low-income countries, unsafe abortions lead to more than seven million women and girls being hospitalised every year. Every year, more than 20 000 women die from complications connected to abortion.
12 million girls are married off before the age of 18 annually, and in low-income countries, pregnancy-related complications is the most common cause of death for girls and young women between 15 and 19. Teenage pregnancies are often the consequence of child marriage and sexual violence, in addition to lack of access to sexual education, health services and contraception. Gender inequality is a root cause of this alarming situation, which is based on a desire to control women’s and girls’ bodies, sexuality and reproduction.
We both wanted change but lacked the direction to achieve it.
Maria Deogratuis. 42 year old farmer from Tanzania, married with seven children.
Les hele Marias historie her
I'm incredibly grateful for the positive impact this program has had on my family. It brought us back together after a very difficult period, particularly in my marriage. My husband used to take all the earnings from our farm harvests and leave without contributing to the household. This made caring for our children extremely challenging. When I confronted him, he would become angry and sometimes violent.
A turning point came when we both attended the educational programs. I could sense it resonated with my husband; we talked about it as soon as we got home. I told him we couldn't continue living this way, filled with pain and hopelessness.
The program was instrumental in helping us. We both wanted change but lacked the direction to achieve it. We attended more classes and received visits from a community activist. This support instilled confidence in us to work together. My husband started consulting me on various matters, and I offered him guidance and assistance whenever needed. Soon after, we began visiting sugarcane farms, seeking new opportunities. Previously, we had only grown cotton with limited success. Deciding to cultivate both crops proved to be a financially sound decision; the sugarcane yielded significant profits.
The income from sugarcane cultivation helped us build our house. We diligently saved a portion of our earnings towards this goal.
Later, I sought additional ways to improve our family's life. Through the program, we learned about support groups. I joined forces with ten other women to form a financial support group. Each month, we contributed money that I used to purchase essential household items like cookware. The other women used the funds for bricks and cement to complete their houses.
Today, I can confidently say that my life is better. My children are growing up in a positive environment and have the opportunity to attend school. Additionally, child marriages are becoming less prevalent as families prioritize educating their daughters, not just their sons.
Quick facts
Every day, 800 girls die from complications connected to pregnancy and birth. Most of these deaths could have been avoided. Only about two of three women in low-income countries are assisted by qualified personnel during pregnancy and when giving birth.
25 million unsafe abortion are carried out annually, causing more than 20 000 women to die every year.
Over 200 million women and girls in low-income countries want to avoid pregnancies but don’t use contraception, either because they don’t have access to it, don’t know what it is, because it’s too expensive, or because their husbands won’t allow it.
Would you like to know more?
Contact FOKUS’ advisors on sexual and reproductive health and rights:
Joar Svanemyr
Senior programme advisor, sexual and reproductive health and rights in Uganda, Ethiopia, Colombia and Guatemala, and harmful practices in Kenya.
Borghild Berge
Senior programme advisor, violence against women and girls, sexual and reproductive health and rights and harmful practices in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Somaliland
