Sexual Rights for Everyone

November 1st, the SRHR Alliance has been granted nearly 51 million euro for the 5-year programme to promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people in Africa and Asia. The application was for 69 million euro originally, thus apart from happiness there's also disappointment.

1 April 2010 the Ministery of Foreign Affairs informed us that the SRHR alliance qualified to submit a full proposal for the so called MFS II subsidy.

The SRHR Alliance, in which WPF, Rutgers Nisso Groep, AMREF Flying Doctors Netherlands, CHOICE, Simavi and Dance4Life International cooperate, have submitted an application for subsidy of over 69 Million Euro to the Minister  for Development Cooperation for 2011-2015. SRHR is short for 'Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Combine Strength
The funds are meant for a joint programme for poverty alleviation that gives access to equal sexual rights to people worldwide. In 10 countries in Asia and Africa the organizations of the Alliance and their partner organizations combine their expertise and work to improve the sexual and reproductive health (care), sexuality education, the fight against violence against women, and everyone's freedom to express their sexual identity (whether they're lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender (LGBT)).

Rights vs. reality
Sexual and reproductive rights are basic human rights. Everyone should have access to correct information on sexuality issues, and be able to make his or her own choices about their sexuality.
In reality this is not always the case. Over 500.000 women die every year due to complications during pregnancy or giving birth.  For example because they didn't have professional maternal health care. Worldwide one in three women have experienced any form of sexual violence during their lifetime.

Contribution to the MDGs 
Sexual rights are by and large absent in the MDGs. Reproductive
rights, in particular access to legal and safe abortion and sexual rights, such as the right of women, youth and sexual minorities to freely express their sexuality, remain highly controversial. The Alliance will actively address controversial issues at all levels, and as such filling a niche in the mainstream SRH programmes. The activities of the Alliance contribute to especially MDG 3 (gender equality, MDG 5 (maternal health) and MDG 6 (HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria). 
 
More information:
>> Management Summary SRHR Alliance