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Latin Governments Advised to Defend Women's Health Rights   
April 23, 2006—For the first time, the Latin American Congress on Sexuality and Sexual Education brought together political leaders, researchers, and international organizations to discuss sexual and reproductive rights. Held in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil from April 19-22, the congress focused on improving education and health policies in the region. In a public policy forum, Latina parliamentarians drafted a letter advocating for political leaders to respect and defend Latin Americans’ sexual and reproductive health rights. The “Carta da Bahia,” or “Bahia Letter,” recommends that local governments create offices of women’s public policy in an effort to support women's health rights. The letter also advocated for working with officials in developing reproductive health education curricula for primary school children. Ultimately, the parliamentarians want to ensure that women participate in all programs aimed at promoting the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls. Nilceia Freire, Brazilian Minister of Public Policy for Women, stated that her country has committed to creating conditions that allow women and men to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. Brazil advocated for the United Nations to add universal access to reproductive health as part of the Millennium Development Goals during the 2005 World Summit. Freire urged political leaders and organizations to defend global priorities for action and embrace broader rights for women set at the 1994 Cairo and 1995 Beijing conferences. As the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas featured speaker, CEDPA’s Sandra de Castro Buffington presented models of women’s leadership and advocacy to advance public policy on sexual and reproductive rights. Buffington declared, “Women are the key to changing the world. Change, choice and power are what empowerment is all about.” She added, “The empowerment of women at the individual level helps build a base for social change.” Buffington serves as CEDPA’s Vice President for Programs. |
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