TRACKING THE INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AGENDAS OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS Chief Directorate: Population and Development National Department of Social Development Presentation at the WGNRR, MOSAIC and Triangle Project Advocacy Skills Training and Strategic Planning Workshop Ms. Neloufar Khan CD: Population and Development 23 November 2011 Outline of the Presentation • Who are we? … What do we do? • Tracking international, regional and national agenda of SRHR – Participation of CD: Population and Development • Sharing regional and national work experiences • Current Activities • Upcoming Activities – ICPD +20 Review – 45th Session of UNCPD 2 Who are we? • Chief Directorate: Population and Development (National Population Unit) • Provincial Population Units – Promoting advocacy for population and related development issues – Assistance in interpreting the Population Policy – Analysing and interpreting population dynamics – Disseminating information to inform policy design and programming – Monitoring and evaluating population policy implementation 3 Population Policy (1998) • • • • • • The South Africa Population policy endorses and is heavily influenced by the vision encapsulated in the ICPD PoA; Vision: Establishment of a society that provides a high and equitable quality of life to all South Africans, and in which population trends are commensurate with sustainable socio-economic and environmental development Goal: To align population trends with achievement of sustainable human development Various concerns raised based on data available at the time, outlining state of SA population on the dawn of democracy and after the ravages of Apartheid. Three main objectives stated 24 Major strategies proposed to achieve objectives 4 Major SRHR Concerns in the Population Policy (pp.33/34) – “reduced human development potential influenced by the high incidence of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and teenage pregnancies” – “high rates of infant and maternal mortality, linked to high risk childbearing” and; – “rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV and AIDS” 5 SRHR Strategies of Population Policy (pp.35/36) – “Improving the quality, accessibility, availability and affordability of primary health care services, including reproductive health and health promotion services (such as family planning), to the entire population in order to reduce mortality and unwanted pregnancies, focusing on disadvantaged groups, currently underserved areas, and adolescents; and eliminating disparities in the provision of such services” and; – “Promoting responsible and healthy reproductive and sexual behaviour among adolescents and the youth to reduce the incidence of high-risk teenage pregnancies, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS, through the provision of life skills, sexuality and gender-sensitivity education, user-friendly health services and opportunities for engaging in social and community 6 life” Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights Agenda INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL NATIONAL International SRHR Agenda • • • • • Committed to the implementation of: – 1994 ICPD PoA – Maputo Plan of Action – The Commitment Document of the 15 Year Review of the Implementation of the ICPD PoA in Africa, adopted by the African Ministerial Conference on ICPD @ 15 in Addis Ababa - 2009 – The Resolution of the Southern African Development Community’s Ministers’ Conference on ICPD+15 - 2009. United Nations Commission on Population and Development (UNCPD) – 44th Session – “Fertility, Reproductive Health and Development” – 45th Session – “Adolescents and Youth” – www.unpopulation.org Partners in Population and Development (PPD) World Population Day – 11 July State of the World Population Report 8 Regional SRHR Agenda • Review of the 15 Years of ICPD PoA in the Southern African Development (SADC) Region – SADC Member States met in 2005, 2007, 2008 to discuss implementation of ICPD PoA – Regional progress review – 13 individual country reports – Various thematic areas within population and development including: • Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights • Gender Equality, Equity and Empowerment of Women • Youth Empowerment, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health • HIV and AIDS, Malaria, TB and other Communicable Diseases – Report finalised – July 2009 9 National SRHR Agenda • Progress with Implementing the 1994 ICPD PoA and the 1998 Population Policy for South Africa – 2009/10 – To evaluate progress with the implementation of the Population Policy and ICPD, as well as teasing out shortcomings and challenges in order to improve development efforts; – Thematic background papers prepared by staff in the CDPD in collaboration with researchers and other government officials. – Review is part of a wider process of developing a more concerted strategy to address national population and development concerns to inform priorities that will guide the development of the next five year national population strategy (2009-2014) 10 Thematic background papers: Activities covered in more detail in 8 thematic background papers available at www.population.gov.za 1. Poverty and inequality 2. Migration and urbanization 3. Families, households and children 4. HIV and AIDS 5. Population, Environment and Development 6. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 7. Youth 8. Gender Equality and Equity 11 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Total Fertility , Maternal Mortality (per 100,000) and Life Expectancy for South Africa 3.3 160 3.2 140 120 3.1 100 3 80 2.9 60 2.8 40 2.7 20 2.6 1996 TFR MMR 1998 2001 E0 0 2006 Maternal Mortality increased: Stats SA 88-136/100,000 (1999-2002) Infant and Child (under 5) mortality remained high yet relatively constant at about 43 and 16/1000 respectively in 2003 MAIN FINDING • Improved access to SRH services since 1998 undermined by decreased life expectancy and increased MMR, both linked to HIV & AIDS RECOMMENDATIONS • Improve women’s access to and use of effective SRH services. Emphasize adolescents, youth and rural women. Continue to promote responsible, healthy reproductive lifestyles and behaviour among high risk groups and the youth. • Strengthen commitment to and enhancing national capacities and mechanisms for the collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of application 12 information. HIV and AIDS 35 National HIV prevalence trends among antenatal clinic attendees in South Africa, 1995-2008 RECOMMENDATIONS • Improve the social and 25 economic status of women 20 (particularly youth) in order to 15 decrease their vulnerability, and to increase the ability of 10 households to deal with the 5 impact of HIV and Aids. 0 • Strengthen commitment to and 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 enhancing national capacities and mechanisms for the MAIN FINDING collection, analysis, HIV & AIDS continues to pose serious health and interpretation and dissemination development challenges. Young women (20-29) of HIV and AIDS and population disproportionally affected. Male attitudes and research data, and the use of behaviours key. Benefits of ART becoming such data and information to apparent i.t.o improving life expectancy and inform policy making and curbing orphanhood. development planning. 30 13 Conclusions of Review • Some progress in achieving objectives of ICPD+15 and Population Policy • However, many challenges remain, amongst which are: – Youth: Addressing issues of concern to one of the fastest growing sections of society (youth) and reaping the demographic dividend – Gender: Optimal utilization of and vigorous protection for ½ the population should be addressed – HIV & AIDS: continue to strengthen prevention and treatment programmes, with particular focus on protecting women, and establishing male responsibility • Based on the analysis of the review, the above are critical focus areas • Population and Development Strategy – 2009 - 2014 14 National: Co-ordinated Efforts • National and provincial stakeholder teams on teenage pregnancy (Govt departments, NGOs, research institutions) • Inter-Governmental Task Team on Teenage Pregnancy – Headed by Dept of Basic Education – Strategy on the Prevention and Management of Teenage Pregnancies in Schools • Civil Society - Sexual Health and Rights Initiative (SHARISA) – Recent registration – Interim Board • Technical and steering committees (e.g. NYDA Status of Youth Survey, internal DSD projects etc.) 15 National: Research Activities • Research report on HIV and AIDS and other key health concerns with demographic consequences • Gap Analysis Report on Services for Youth in South Africa • Report on the State of Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights in South Africa • Report on Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa • Population report on the State of Gender & the Empowerment of Women in South Africa 16 National: Advocacy and Programmes • Training sessions conducted on HIV and AIDS and TB management for government planners • Capacity building and training workshops conducted to mainstream population issues, including gender, into social sector development plans and social research • Population & Development Knowledge & Information Service (PDKIS) • Local Population Advocacy Campaign – Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights • Guideline to integrate population policy information into IDPs 17 Upcoming Activities: ICPD +20 Review • • • Operational Review - Series of inter-related activities – Global survey (results to strengthen monitoring framework with improved indicator and baseline), – To be conducted in 193 countries – In-depth studies – Thematic group reports – National and regional consultations – Expert meetings Core module used in all countries, and optional modules for countries to explore in-depth specific issues of interest. Core module : – Country Implementation Profile – A questionnaire to be filled in a consultative format addressing barriers, enabling factors, priorities and emerging issues 18 ICPD +20 Review - National • Global survey – country profile • Thematic chapters with stakeholder meetings on drafts • ICPD +20 and Population Policy +15 review – September 2013 19 Upcoming Activities: 45th Session UNCPD • Theme : “Adolescents and Youth” • Thematic Background Paper • International Population Forum – Consultation with Government Departments, NGOS etc. 20 THANK YOU 21