Sex education to strengthen women's rights

Ensuring equal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights can be particularly challenging in marginalized areas. In a Swedish context, a lack of knowledge about SRHR, available support—including healthcare services—combined with language barriers, can create obstacles.

“The Swedish government has tasked the Gender Equality Agency, in collaboration with several other agencies, with strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights in socially vulnerable areas. The aim is to address issues that may limit women and girls, young LGBTQI+ people, and individuals from other vulnerable groups,” said Minister for Gender Equality Paulina Brandberg in her opening speech at the UN.

A Long Way to Menstrual Health for Millions of Women

Every month, 1.8 billion people menstruate worldwide. Of these, 500 million live in poverty, and 313 million live in conflict zones or disaster-affected areas. This often means a lack of access to clean water, toilets, and menstrual hygiene products.

In some countries, individuals are forced to stay home from school during their periods due to being considered unclean. In others, the onset of menstruation signals that they are available for sexual activity. When teenage pregnancies occur, many youth do not return to school, instead taking care of their children. Additionally, school education about sexual and reproductive rights is the exception rather than the norm globally, according to a new WHO report.

The whole society needs increased knowledge about SRHR

Hendrica Okondo is a Kenyan women’s rights activist with long-standing experience working with religious and traditional leaders on sexual and reproductive rights. She represents the organization Women's Rights and Empowerment Partnership in Africa (WREPA), which conducts educational activities aimed at both women and men.

“It’s important to work across multiple fronts. In our efforts with religious and traditional leaders, we discuss the importance of girls’ participation in school for broader societal development. For young men, we provide sex education and talk extensively about consent,” she explains.

Education leads to employment, which in turn is a path out of poverty. But even in the labor market, there is widespread ignorance about sexual and reproductive rights.

“By implementing strategies and programs for sexual and reproductive health in our workplaces, we can contribute to the social sustainability agenda and increase profitability. It’s about creating safe work environments, family-friendly policies, and structured efforts to detect employees exposed to violence,” says Sahil Tesfu, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at hygiene company Essity, a leading member of UNFPA’s coalition Reproductive Justice in Business.

The right not to be genitally mutilated

Enid Muthoni works as a lawyer for the civil society organization Center for Reproductive Rights, which combats female genital mutilation (FGM) and advocates for stronger abortion rights laws globally.

All of Enid’s older sisters were genitally mutilated as children. Enid and her younger sister were not—thanks to a new law passed in their home country of Kenya before they reached the age at which FGM is typically performed.

“That made me realize the importance of strong national legislation for women’s sexual and reproductive rights,” she says.