National Statement delivered by H.E. Andreas von Uexküll, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN, at the at the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development, 2 May 2024
Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Civil Society Representatives,
Thirty years ago, at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Governments agreed to take action for human rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
This week we are celebrating the achievements, assessing the implementation, and reconfirming our commitments.
SRHR is today an integral part of Sweden’s health, gender equality and human rights priorities. We know from our own experience that ensuring access to SRHR services unleashes numerous benefits - from preventing maternal mortality and morbidity, to improving girls’ access to education and women’s access to the labour market, and thereby stimulating inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
As few as 0 to 6 women die yearly in Sweden due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. This progress would not have been possible without our midwives, a profession that has existed in Sweden for over 300 years. In Sweden, midwives not only ensure safe pregnancies and deliveries, they also provide comprehensive SRHR services.
In Sweden, the recognition of the need to provide young people with information and services, led to mandatory sexuality education in the 1950’s and the establishment of midwife-driven adolescent sexual and reproductive health services across the country. Many other countries have adopted the midwife model and witnessed similar progress.
But despite good progress made, many challenges remain globally and still need to be addressed.
Severe humanitarian situations, illegal attacks against health care facilities, a global pandemic and a lack of political will to invest in SRHR, has prevented the world from reaching those most in need.
Despite an often-challenging international environment, we must continue to work in close collaboration with all stakeholders, including civil society, to accelerate progress towards the ICPD Agenda.
We must intensify our efforts to ensure that everyone – women, young people, girls, LGBTQI persons, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups – can enjoy their right to bodily integrity, define their own sexuality and access SRHR services, such as lifesaving maternal health services, comprehensive sexuality education and safe abortion.
To respect, protect and fulfil SRHR, states must abolish discriminatory and restrictive laws and policies, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices.
The complexities of issues related to population trends, and their effect on our future, need always to be discussed from a rights perspective. We must ensure the right to decide if and when one wants to become pregnant and the number of children one wants to have.
We must invest in health systems that can deliver comprehensive and quality sexual and reproductive services.
Sweden remains a strong and unwavering supporter of SRHR globally. Through our development cooperation we work to integrate a comprehensive, evidence-based package of SRHR services into health systems, including maternal health services and training of midwives.
We have contributed to making more than 28 million deliveries safer globally over the past 15 years through our support to UNFPA’s Maternal Health Fund.
And we support access to comprehensive sexuality education, contraceptives, and safe and legal abortions, and we are combatting all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices.
Access to comprehensive sexuality education is key to preventing unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and gender-based violence. Access to safe abortion is key to reducing maternal mortality, to ensuring the right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health and to fulfilling women’s right to decide over their own bodies and reproduction.
To conclude, keeping a strong commitment and engagement on SRHR matters are as necessary today as in 1994, and we all have an important role to play – Governments, parliamentarians, civil society, the private sector and young people – to contribute to ensure SRHR for all in the coming years.
Thank you.