The United Nations recently indicated that 800 women die each day due to pregnancy or childbirth, with each death accompanied by 20 more women who suffer lifelong consequences from injuries, infections, diseases, or disabilities resulting from pregnancy, childbirth, or unsafe abortions.
According to human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, the consequences are often catastrophic when women and girls do not have access to proper healthcare services and information. In many countries, the lack of autonomy and decision-making power among women and girls poses an additional hurdle.
In many countries, it is nearly impossible for women and girls to access basic information and services in the field of sexual and reproductive health.
This situation is sometimes due to states’ refusal to prioritize this field or invest resources in it. When healthcare services are available, they are typically concentrated in the wealthiest areas and are thus inaccessible to many women who live too far away or cannot afford the travel costs.
This lack of information combined with limited access to abortion means that many young women have no choice but to continue an unwanted pregnancy or resort to clandestine abortions, which are often performed in dangerous conditions.
According to United Nations estimates, of the approximately 19 million unsafe abortions carried out each year in developing countries, 2.5 million involve adolescents, and girls aged 10 to 19 make up 70% of hospitalizations following unsafe abortions.
At the International Conference on Population and Development, world leaders also adopted a Program of Action aimed at changing how policies and programs in this domain are designed and implemented.
The objective was to ensure that the respect for sexual and reproductive rights, including addressing discrimination faced by women in accessing healthcare, is prioritized in any demographic policies adopted by countries worldwide.
Representatives of the United Nations member states will meet again in 2014 to evaluate the progress made since the adoption of the Program of Action. They will particularly review the efforts taken by countries to fulfill their commitments.
