SRH is important – Newspaper – DAWN.COM

I hesitated to write about International Sexual Health Day, which was celebrated in 60 countries earlier this month. In my view, however, it is about more than sexual relationships; It speaks to the future of a nation struggling to find its place in an increasingly competitive global landscape. Fourteen years ago, the World Sexual Health Association declared September 4th as World Sexual Health Day and called for promoting social awareness of sexual health around the world.

The 2023 theme focuses on positive relationships based on mutual respect and understanding – cornerstones of sexual health and well-being that are a human right. Everyone has the right to safe relationships that meet their needs, respect bodily autonomy, and promote equality and respect. It also leads to better reproductive health outcomes. While sexual health is a private matter between couples, its consequences extend beyond the individual and are deeply rooted in societal values. Therefore, health literacy and sexuality education are crucial for developing positive relationships, protecting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and reproductive rights (RR), and empowering individuals to make informed decisions.

Access to comprehensive, high-quality and accurate information about SRH promotes appropriate and timely use of SRH services. This facilitates the prevention, early detection and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and their side effects. Informed people build stronger families that are fact-based, free from judgment, and open to constructive discussions about sensitive topics. This environment helps adolescents and young people understand and communicate effectively about issues related to sexual health.

Deep-rooted inequality and pervasive disrespect in relationships are the root causes of violence, particularly gender-based violence. Cultivating respect and trust in SRH matters and well-being is crucial to eliminating fear of violence and violations. Every person of legal age as defined by their respective state should have the right to enter into relationships free from the threat of gender-based violence and sexual assault. Governments have a responsibility to implement effective prevention and response measures, while the broader social community must actively condemn all forms of violence.

Inequality and disrespect in relationships contribute to violence.

Over one billion people worldwide live with sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, many of which remain incurable. This situation could have been reversed if there had been timely interventions and a tolerant social culture free from stigmatization. Avoiding discussion of problems does not solve them; it only complicates them further and increases the financial burden of dealing with these problems in the future.

In Pakistan, as in many societies with conservative social norms, discourse on sexuality is often limited to a limited perspective that focuses exclusively on sexual contact and adherence to local religious interpretations and social expectations. This narrow framework distracts the discussion from the duty of the state and society to find solutions to SRH challenges and distracts the discussion from assessing individuals’ compliance with social norms.

In a gender-biased society, men have often politicized and ideologized these issues to maintain control and an unequal power structure. This reflects the debate over women’s access to their rightful inheritance, where various barriers are erected to concentrate wealth in the hands of men. This explains the surprising agreement between men of different ideological backgrounds – religious, atheist, conservative or liberal – when it comes to women’s inheritance rights, despite the rights enshrined in religious and social norms. In a context where most politicians, legislators and policymakers are men who benefit from perpetuating taboos around sexuality and women’s rights, achieving meaningful reform is often characterized by lip service.

This highlights the importance of gender equality as a catalyst for real social reform, which is fundamental to promoting respectful sexual relationships, reducing gender-based violence and increasing the likelihood of sustainable marriages in a society struggling with high rates of early divorce has.

My message today is to call on politicians and decision-makers who care about the country’s future to take a broader perspective on gender equality and recognize its social, political and economic dimensions. It is important to break all forms of unfair taboos and promote open public debate to create an enabling environment for future generations and enable Pakistan to secure its place in a rapidly changing world where seats at the table are social and economically open-minded individuals are empowered nations that are free of gender bias and committed to innovation.

The author is the representative of the UN Population Fund in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, September 29, 2024