Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, everybody.
It is an honour and privilege for me to address you on the sexual and reproductive health of women globally.
Speaking about sexual and reproductive health, I would like to share the World Health Organization's definition of “health”. It is defined as a state of “complete physical, mental and social” health and “not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” When this applies to the reproductive system, it includes processes and functions. I would like to say that the provision of abortion does not augur well for the physical, mental and social health of women.
Why would I say that?
A study in 2003 by the United Nations indicated that 71% of sub-Saharan people live in poverty. Women are hit the most. There is a multi-dimensional approach to the poverty experienced by women, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, that affects their health, their education and their life expectancy.
I would like to paint a brief profile of such a woman. My protagonist is called Jane. She is 23 years old. She lives in Lagos, Nigeria. She is married with two children and is expecting her third child. She and her husband are looking forward to having that child. They live in a room with other [Inaudible—Editor] in an overcrowded area in Lagos. They have no indoor plumbing. They have no kitchen. They share common resources, like toilets and a bathroom. Open defecation is rife. Flies and mosquitos abound. Jane is a food seller. She and her husband earn less than $30 U.S. a month. Also, because of the security situation in Nigeria, Jane will have to pay a levy to the local thugs in her area for protection. These local thugs can turn aggressors, given the right amount of money.
Objectively, what are the health needs of Jane?
She needs antenatal care. She needs nutrition. She needs adequate care during pregnancy and childbirth. What she will probably be able to afford is a birth attendant who is not equipped to take care of complications during pregnancy or during childbirth.
Objectively, what does Jane need?
She needs shelter. She needs nutrition. She needs potable water. She needs accessible and affordable health care. She needs education. She needs economic empowerment.
Who speaks for the Janes of this world? Who listens to these poor women who need and want to have children, but are living in abject poverty?
On one hand, Jane is battered by the situation of her country. On the other hand, she is battered by foreign donors that present abortion as the only option.
A former foreign minister of Nigeria says that foreign funding for non-profit organizations is “a tool of subversion of the global south by the global north.” I believe that applies when sexual and reproductive health are offered and abortion is the primary line of help offered to these poor women.
In Africa, we love children. African couples love children. Pregnancy is seen as a blessing. Abortion for us is a taboo. When Jane is being offered abortion and is forced to take abortion as a solution, nobody takes into account her cultural belief or her religious belief. Jane is not given the opportunity to speak for herself and to look for support that will fall in line with her beliefs.
Mr. Chair, I would like to say that I applaud the Government of Canada for this study. Last year, the Canadian government gave a huge donation toward dealing with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. That is a step in the right direction.
I think I will conclude with this: The Janes of this world would be happier if they were supported and if they were empowered to seek solutions that are in line with their religious and cultural beliefs, and not forced without any solution to fall into whatever the funders think they need.
Thank you so much for listening.