MThere is a brunt of events of women, girls and marginalized people around the world Struggle and crisis around the world – And cut for sexual and reproductive health will kill them the most difficult, the most difficult to remove Important support where it requires most,
Pregnancy and childbirth already have complications Major causes of death For girls between 15 and 19 years of age worldwide. Every day, around 800 women die due to reasons related to preventable pregnancy. Among the countries facing conflict – such as Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine – women and girls are often paying the most prices. They are facing extensive sexual violence, giving birth to bomb shelters, and labor is being forced to bear labor without relief.
These are not rare tragedy: they are becoming an ideal. When the healthcare system collapses, sexual and reproductive health is one of the first casualties. This means no maternal care. No contraceptive. No period product. And there is no education about their body and health for young girls and teenagers.
In addition, we are looking at a growing movement around the world to bring back the rights of women and girls and prevent them from freedom and choice on our body. Abortion care has been banned in countries such as the US and Poland, and significant assistance funding has been cut throughout Europe. These are not isolated failure. They are part of a growing and intentional attack on basic rights – women and girls deny the essential services they need to live a safe, healthy and autonomous life.
Prime Minister Kir StamorThe recent announcement of increase in defense spending should not be at the cost of the rights of women and girls. Britain once paved the way to make gender equality champion and fight for sexual and reproductive health and rights, but now the reputation is in danger of disappearance.
We have seen the results of the first assistance cutting. After a decrease in the budget of 2021, women and girls were left to face the worst results: millions of unexpected pregnancies and unprotected abortion, as well as 8,000 prevented maternal deaths. These latest cut risk history repeats itself.
Now, the new data released this week by Guttmacher Institute, Plan International UK and MSI reproductive options is not bare that if sexual and reproductive health is cut more then what is at stake. Their analysis predicts more than two million additional unexpected pregnancies, approximately one million more unsafe abortion and about 3,000 more maternal deaths. The message is Stark and unavoidable: Eliminating access to safe conception, maternal healthcare, and important reproductive health services comes with a devastating human cost.
Sexual and reproductive health is not a luxury. This is a lifetime. It supports girls to stay in school, enable women to plan their families and career, and promote their rise as leaders in their communities. Sexual and reproductive health to achieve gender equality is fundamental.
For women and girls facing the biggest challenges, living in disabled areas, disabled, displaced, diverse gender and sexual violence, or with those who survive sexual violence, UK-funded services can be the only lifeline. Cutting that support is not only a betrayal, but for so many people there is a difference between life and death.
We also know that investing in sexual and reproductive health and rights is a strategic and cost -effective option for us. Aid budgetWhich helps to build economically stable and flexible societies: for each $ 1 spent on it, there is a return of $ 120.
At a time when the rights of women and girls are deliberately and subject to a coordinated attack, the UK should do more – not less. We should invest in services that give girls and women options on their body, life and futures. We should be firm in our commitments to create a real partnership with governments and local organizations. Through the UK assistance, we have the power to show the world that freedom, equality and rights are non-perfect.
No further cut for Britain’s sexual and reproductive health assistance will not only tarnish the UK position on the global platform, but will also damage its reputation as a defender for human rights. The world is watching and now there is a moment to lead. Let’s not leave women and girls.
Sara is Labor MP for Champion Roderham
This piece is built as part of independent Global assistance reconsideration series
