Monday
Sep222014

Address by South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP, on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly on the commission on population and development

Address by South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP, on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly on the commission on population and development on harnessing the demographic dividend and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health in Africa, at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Ms Bathabile Dlamini, speaking as South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, gave a strong presentation at a meeting of the commission on population and development on harnessing the demographic dividend and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health at the UN in New York. In the context of the Addis Ababa Declaration, she discussed sexual and reproductive health and rights, reproductive justice and the links between human rights and development.

The Minister reaffirmed her government’s position in relation to population and development, saying “The South African Population Policy, in accordance with the South African Constitution and guided by the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD), emphasises the attainment of sustainable development and places people at the centre of that development. Development is seen as a process of enlarging people’s capabilities and ensuring that they enjoy long, healthy and creative lives. This is based on an approach that fundamental human rights and sustainable development cannot be separated if we are to improve the lives of people.”

She described the situation under apartheid during which population control policies penetrated all aspects of life; black women were subjected to enforced long term contraception regimes; heterosexual relationships between members of different race groups were illegal and so-called offenders were hunted down and prosecuted; and there was no freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity existed.

In contrast, she reflected on the Addis Ababa Declaration (See: Outcome document from the Ministerial Meeting: The Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development in Africa Beyond 2014) and what it says about sexual and reproductive health and rights. As she said “Sexual and reproductive health and rights can, of course, never be divorced from the pursuit of gender equality and equity, and the full empowerment of women. Sexual and reproductive health and rights is at the centre of gender relations, as much as the full realisation of Sexual and reproductive health and rights cannot be achieved in the absence of gender equality and equity.” The Addis Ababa Declaration, moroever, builds on the existing provisions of the African Union to recognise and promote these rights and, as she said, “it commits us to harmonise our national legislation with all the relevant international instruments on gender equality and women’s empowerment and the protection of children, particularly to support and protect the girl child.”

To read the full statement visit: http://www.gov.za/speeches/view.php?sid=48632

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