Promoting comprehensive sexuality education, access to abortion and contraception

Worldwide, 257 million women who wish to avoid pregnancy do not have access to the services that would enable them to do so. The right to abortion and access to it is declining in many countries. This is the case in Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Chad, where it is either illegal or only permissible under certain conditions (in cases of rape, incest or for health reasons). In Vietnam and Tunisia, abortion is legal, but access remains particularly difficult due to a lack of equipment and supplies.

 

The same applies to Comprehensive Sexuality Education, which remains a taboo subject in these countries. This content is non-existent from school curricula. And if teachers try to organize workshops, they can suffer the repercussions. Yet Comprehensive Sexuality Education contributes to the well-being of young people, and to the maintenance of respectful social and sexual relationships.

 

In response to these findings, BATIK Int. and its partners have joined forces to create the Programme d’Appui aux Droits et à la Santé Sexuelle et Reproductive. Its aim is to restore decision-making power to women and young people in Chad, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Vietnam and Tunisia. Through a training and awareness-raising program:

 

Young people will be strengthened in their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health;

Youth and health professionals will be supported in informing young people and better addressing women's needs;

Associations will be supported in their advocacy efforts with public authorities for unconditional access to abortion in their countries.