Women shocked after sexual health rights omitted from UN Commission on the Status of Women key declaration

Women shocked after sexual health rights omitted from UN Commission on the Status of Women key declaration

By Mikaele Liga
Thursday 13/03/2025
Photo:Benar

The omission of sexual and reproductive health rights from the key declaration of the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York has left women from various organizations in Fiji and abroad shocked.

Pacific delegate and women’s advocate Noelene Nabulivou from Fiji told BenarNews it’s shocking thirty years after Beijing, not one mention of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Nabulivou says the core of gender justice and human rights lies in the ability to make substantive decisions over one’s body, health, and sexual decision-making.

She says it is a common sentiment among the approximately 100 Pacific participants at the largest annual gathering on women’s rights that attracts thousands of delegates from around the world.

Fiji-based DIVA for Equality representative Viva Tatawaqa says this is a major omission, especially given the current conditions in several states and the wider push-back and regression on women’s human rights.

Tatawaqa says that sexual and reproductive health and rights was included in the second version of the political declaration but was later removed due to a lack of consensus and trade-offs in language.

She says they will not let everyone ignore this omission and the reason given for the trade-off.

Pacific Women Mediators Network coordinator Sharon Bhagwan Rolls says the inclusion of climate justice and the women, peace, and security agenda in the Beijing+30 Action Plan is a reminder of the inter sectional and inter generational work that has continued.

Rolls says this work has been forged through women-led networks and coalitions like the Pacific Women Mediators Network and the Pacific Island Feminist Alliance for Climate Justice, which align with the Blue Pacific Strategy and the Revitalized Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the general assembly hall at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York says the poison of patriarchy is back, and it is back with a vengeance, slamming the brakes on action, tearing up progress, and mutating into new and dangerous forms without singling out any countries or individuals.

Guterres says the masters of misogyny are gaining strength denouncing the bile women face online.

He says the current rate would take 137 years to lift all women out of poverty, calling on all nations to commit to the promise of Beijing.

Guterres stresses the text comes amid mounting threats to sexual and reproductive rights, including increased efforts, led by conservative groups, to roll back on access to contraception, abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, and gender-affirming care across the world, adding the termination of USAID had compounded the situation.

He says the U.N. Population Fund confirmed in February the U.S., the U.N.’s biggest donor, had cut US$377 million in funding for reproductive and sexual health programs and warned of devastating impacts.

FEATURE NEWS
Woman dies in Raiwaqa fire
A woman has lost her life in a fire at the Jittu Estate Settlement in Raiwaqa, which occurred around 2.30 this afternoon. In an interview with fiji...
10 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
We will lose players but we have player development programs – Drua Coach
There's no doubt we will lose the cream of the crop as some of the young players want to make massive money for their family's future. Swire ...
9 hours ago

Many hit back after PM calls on people to take issues directly to Govt rather than the media
I encourage all concerned citizens to bring their issues directly to the relevant government officials rather than to the editors of daily ...
11 hours ago

House on fire in Raiwaqa
A house in a settlement opposite Rups Raiwaqa is currently on fire. National Fire Authority trucks are currently at the scene. Stay with us for ...
11 hours ago

Evictions expected as TLTB cracks down on unpaid rent
The i-Taukei Land Trust Board is urging tenants with outstanding payments to settle their payment immediately, as part of this initiative, eight ...
14 hours ago

Sanatan Dharm’s registered members to receive discounted medical services with PSH
Good news for registered members of the Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, who will now benefit from discounted medical services. The new ...
15 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Reverend Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Watch the General Secretary of Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, Reverend Simione Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
18 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and William Parkinson
Chairman of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of FM96, LegendFM, VitiFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, fijivillage and PNGFM, William Parkinson ...
19 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and Adi Tulia Nacola
The candid interview focuses on Nacola, coming from a chiefly family and being a daughter of a Minister who was ousted in the 1987 military coup, her ...
19 days ago

TOP