South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Program Director for Jamnel Care Organization, Nelly Hellen has asked communities to focus on sexual and reproductive health which is an essential human rights and social advancement issue across the world.
“Women’s sexual and reproductive health is linked to numerous human rights, as well as the right to life, to be free from anguish, to well-being, to confidentiality, to education, and the prevention of discrimination,” said Hellen on Tuesday in Juba during the training on sexual and reproductive health.
Hellen said that Sexual and reproductive health is an essential human right as well as a social advancement issue that countries must endeavor to satisfy, adding that access to all-inclusive sexual and reproductive health services is crucial.
“Access to all-inclusive sexual and reproductive health services are thus crucial for advancing to widespread health coverage, whilst similarly contributing to gender equality and individual’s empowerment,” she said.
Hellen said infringement of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are experienced due to deep-rooted beliefs and societal values relating to women’s sexuality, adding that sexual and reproductive right is guaranteed in several global and regional human rights tools.
“Sexual and reproductive health are vital essentials of the right of everybody to the satisfaction of the maximum achievable standard of bodily and psychological health. Women are eligible to access reproductive health care services, goods and amenities that are: easily available, cost effective, and accessible without discrimination,” she said.
Hellen said abuses of women’s sexual and reproductive health include forced abortion without women’s prior consent, poor-quality SRHR services, early and forced marriage and forced virginity examinations.
“Jamnel Care Organization (JCO) is creating awareness on different SRHR.JCO is also conducting paralegal trainings in the communities to promote the sexual reproductive health of women and girls in South Sudan,” she said.
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have clearly documented sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as crucial not only to healthiness, but also to gender equality and broader economic and societal growth.
