Access to sexual and reproductive health services and information is a fundamental human right, yet it is often denied to young African women. This denial can have profound and lasting consequences for their health, well-being, and ability to fully participate in society. At Mhodzi Trust, we believe that promoting SRHR justice is essential to achieving gender equality and empowering young African women.
SRHR justice means ensuring that all individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, free from coercion, discrimination, and violence. It means ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education, contraception, safe and legal abortion, and quality maternal and newborn health services. It also means promoting gender equality and challenging harmful social norms and practices that perpetuate discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Young African women face numerous barriers to accessing SRHR services and information. These barriers include poverty, lack of education, stigma and discrimination, limited access to health facilities, and restrictive laws and policies. As a result, young African women are at a higher risk of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and maternal mortality. They also face gender-based violence and other forms of discrimination that limit their agency and ability to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
At Mhodzi Trust, we work to promote SRHR justice for young African women. We advocate for policies and practices that prioritize young women’s SRHR needs and rights, and we support community-based initiatives that promote access to SRHR services and information. We also provide training and capacity-building to young women leaders, so they can become advocates for SRHR justice in their communities.
By promoting SRHR justice, we can empower young African women to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, and we can help ensure that they have the knowledge, skills, and resources to fully participate in society. We invite you to join us in this important work and stand with young African women in their fight for SRHR justice
