Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
The Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentary Forum has called for an urgent review of outdated laws and attitudes that continue to deny young people access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services across the region.
In an interview on the sidelines of the second edition of the Step Up for adolescents sexual protection regional engagement meeting held in Harare, SADC PF media and communications manager, Dr Moses Magadza said young people in Southern Africa face a combination of legal and social barriers that threaten their health and well being.
“Young people are both a resource and an endangered species.
“They face numerous challenges, including fossilised laws that block access to sexual reproductive rights, comprehensive sexuality education and commodities and services. Even when they go to clinics, they are often met with judgment instead of assistance.”
He said the SADC PF, which brings together 15 national parliaments and works closely with about 3 500 members of parliament across Africa, is prioritising evidence-based advocacy to help lawmakers strengthen policies that protect adolescents.
“Members of Parliament require counter-factual evidence to modify laws and support oversight work,” Dr Magadza said.
“We expect partners, including civil society, to generate that evidence so our MPs can act upon it and make a difference in the lives of our young people.”
Dr Magadza said with the world approaching the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urgent action was needed to meet Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality).
“When we invest in young people—ensuring they go through school, start working and contribute to national development—we unlock the demographic dividend,” he said.
“But that can only happen if they are empowered, healthy and free from restrictive laws and stigma.”
SADC PF was established in 1997 in accordance with Article 9 (2) of the SADC Treaty as an autonomous institution of SADC.
It is a regional inter-parliamentary body composed of 15 parliaments representing over 3500 parliamentarians in the SADC region.
