Resistance is primarily from religious and conservative groups, who maintain that some provisions of the Bill are part of the Western agenda, and against East African cultural values.
Six of the countries of the East African Community – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania – recently concluded public hearings on a new sexual and reproductive health bill. Proponents of the bill argue that it will improve access to sexual and reproductive health which, in turn, will improve other public health and development indicators such as maternal mortality and HIV infection rates. But the bill has faced fierce opposition since it was first tabled in 2017.
But getting regional laws through is hard. In the case of East Africa, seven countries are part of the East Africa Community. Getting everyone on board is a tough ask especially when it comes to contentious issues like sexual and reproductive healthcare. In East Africa, complications arising from early pregnancy and child birth are among the leading causes of death among girls aged 15 to 19 years. Young girls are also disproportionately exposed to new HIV infections and sexual violence. If passed, the bill will address adolescent pregnancy and protect the right of young mothers to return to school.
In addition, the Bill makes provisions to safeguard the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people with disabilities. Section 22 prohibits harmful cultural practices such as child marriage, forced sterilisation, and female genital mutilation.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Labor gutted the building watchdogBy quickly moving to get rid of the building watchdog, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a fragile pact with the CFMEU that the militant union won’t become a political liability.
Read more »
‘I left my $200k a year job to become a cleaner’: Why people quit office work“I have taken a financial hit, but it was well worth it.” Why Tony Beaumont gave up his $200,000 office job to run a one-man operation as a cleaner. | Carmen Forward
Read more »
In the name of art: Why single people in Melbourne kissed petri dishesWould you pucker up for art? 😘 A Melbourne artist is collecting kisses. But something is left behind by those kisses: the microbiota of the lips, the invisible ecosystem we host. | nickdmiller
Read more »
‘Ugly parent syndrome’: Why your child’s soccer match can’t get a refereeParents and spectators have been blamed for a lack of referees, as ugly behaviour – belittling, abuse, and physical assault – continues to plague the beautiful game.
Read more »
‘I left my $200k a year job to become a cleaner’: Why people quit office workTony Beaumont gave up his $200,000 a year office job to run a one-man operation as a cleaner. The pandemic has only accelerated the exodus from office jobs.
Read more »
‘I left my $200k a year job to become a cleaner’: Why people quit office workTony Beaumont gave up his $200,000 a year office job to run a one-man operation as a cleaner. The pandemic has only accelerated the exodus from office jobs.
Read more »